Microsoft Points, the highly criticized currency for downloadable content from Xbox Live, is finally going away in favor of a local currency that is comparable to the amount users want to pay in dollars. The system is expected to roll out on Xbox 360, and subsequently the Xbox One when it comes out in November, sometime by the end of this year.
The change will come as a part of an Xbox Live system update. For all consoles running a subscription.
"Our goal is to make this transition as easy as possible for you" said Marc Whitten, Chief Production Officer at Xbox. "After the next Xbox 360 system update, when you go to buy something or redeem a Microsoft Points card or code on your console with your Microsoft account, we'll add to your account an amount of currency equal to or greater than the Xbox Marketplace value of your Microsoft Points, which will be retired."
Previously, if users wanted to purchase content over Xbox Live and download it to their console, they wouldhave to pay for Microsoft tokens to buy it. Points came in increments of $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, $15, $20 and $30. This meant for any and all content downloads, Xbox would receive at least those minimum increments, even if users didn't need that many points for whatever they wanted to purchase. With the new system, games in the Xbox Marketplace will be priced in comparable dollar values of any increment size.
As for people who plan to have Microsoft Points pending in the Xbox Marketplace after the update, you need not worry as your points will be converted with an expiration date of June 1, 2015. Meaning any Microsoft Points you have in your account will still be useable for a couple of years. Note that any currency you purchase after the update won't come with any expiration date, according to Xbox's FAQ.
