Microsoft Points

Microsoft Points

Unit
Plural	Points, Microsoft Points, MSP
Denominations
Banknotes
Freq. used	Cards of 400, 700, 800, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 2000, 2100, 2800, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4200, 4500, 6000
Issuance
Central bank	Microsoft

Microsoft Points, introduced in November 2005 as Xbox Live Points,

Microsoft Points were sold online and through gift cards at retail outlets. In North America, points could only be purchased in 400 point increments. In the United States, the minimum 400 points cost $5 to purchase, 800 cost $10, while 1600 cost $20.^[4]

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 they immediately needed. In his review of the

Xbox product director Aaron Greenberg defended the Points system, arguing that the system was intended to reduce the number of individual credit card transaction fees Microsoft would have to manage for its users.^[7]

Discontinuation

The Xbox services launched alongside

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.^[3][11]

Subsequently, and by September 2013,

See also

• Microsoft Rewards
• PlayStation Store
• Nintendo Points

References