Admin: Created page with "'''Microsoft Points''', introduced in November 2005 as Xbox Live Points, were a digital currency issued by Microsoft for use on its Xbox and Zune product lines..."

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Created page with "'''Microsoft Points''', introduced in November 2005 as Xbox Live Points, were a digital currency issued by Microsoft for use on its Xbox and Zune product lines..."

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'''Microsoft Points''', introduced in November 2005 as Xbox Live Points, were a [[digital currency]] issued by [[Microsoft]] for use on its [[Xbox]] and [[Zune]] product lines. Points could be used to purchase [[video game]]s and [[downloadable content]] from [[Xbox Live Marketplace]], digital content such as music and videos on [[Zune Software#Zune Marketplace|Zune Marketplace]], along with content from [[Windows Live Gallery]].

In June 2013, Microsoft announced that it would phase out Microsoft Points by the end of 2013, in favor of using local cash currencies (such as the [[United States dollar]] and [[Euro]]) on its digital distribution platforms. An [[Xbox 360 system software|Xbox 360 software update]] implementing this change was released on August 26, 2013; users' existing Microsoft Points were converted into an equivalent amount of local currency for purchases.

== Criticism ==
The Microsoft Points system was criticized for being deceptive in terms of actual real-world cost, as well as for users often having to purchase more points at once than those which are immediately needed. In his review of the [[Zune]], [[Paul Thurrott]] argued that "a song on Zune typically costs 79 Microsoft Points, which, yes, is about 99 cents. But it seems to be less because it's just 79 Points." [[Walter Mossberg]] also noted that "to buy even a single 99 cent song from the Zune store, you have to purchase blocks of "points" from Microsoft, in increments of at least $5. You can’t just click and have the 99 cents deducted from a credit card, as you can with [[iTunes Store|iTunes]]. So, even if you are buying only one song, you have to allow Microsoft to hold on to at least $4.01 of your money until you buy another."

Xbox product director Aaron Greenberg defended the Points system, arguing that the system was intended to reduce the number of individual [[credit card]] [[interchange fee|transaction fees]] Microsoft would have to manage for its users.

== Discontinuation ==
The Xbox services launched alongside [[Windows 8]]—[[Xbox Music]] and [[Xbox Video]] (which both succeed Zune Marketplace) defaulted to using credit card transactions with local currency for purchases instead of Microsoft Points. However, when accessed from an [[Xbox 360]] console, users were still required to pay using Microsoft Points. In May 2013, reports indicated that Microsoft Points would be discontinued entirely in favor of unified gift cards with currency that would work across Xbox, [[Windows Store]], and [[Windows Phone Store]].

Microsoft's plans to discontinue Points were confirmed during its [[E3 2013]] media event focusing on the [[Xbox One]], and took effect with the roll-out of an [[Xbox 360]] software update on August 26, 2013. Users' existing Microsoft Points were converted into a currency amount "equal to or greater [than]" their current Points balance. Currency gained from converted Points expired on June 1, 2015.

Subsequently, and by September 2013, [[XBox Rewards]] were introduced.

== See also ==

* [[Microsoft Rewards]]
* [[PlayStation Store]]
* [[Nintendo Points]]

==Source==

[http://wikipedia.org/ http://wikipedia.org/]
[[Category:Windows]]

Microsoft Points - Revision history

Admin: Created page with "'''Microsoft Points''', introduced in November 2005 as Xbox Live Points, were a digital currency issued by Microsoft for use on its Xbox and Zune product lines..."