Microsoft Phasing Out Xbox Point System

Microsoft’s “point” system has been a sore spot for many people. The cash values never matched up evenly, you were generally left with a small balance and you didn’t always having something to spend it on easily. According to The Verge, sources familiar with the Microsoft Xbox point system say that it’s going to go away in favor of a cash and gift card system.

Windows 8 currently uses a cash model for its purchases, so it makes sense Xbox would evolve into a similar system. The new gift card system will operate in a similar fashion to Sony’s PSN gift cards, where real world cash will be used to obtain content on the virtual store. This system will also work across all of Microsoft’s platforms including Windows 8, Windows Phone and Xbox platforms.

The new system will allow customers to make regular credit and debit card transactions; no information was given regarding whether or not there will be a fee for debit transactions. The current understanding is that this new system will be unveiled at E3 and will supposedly launch simultaneously with the next generation Xbox later this year.

This is something that I know many Xbox gamers have been wanting, and it’s why Sony went with the cash system. The fact this is going to work across all of Microsoft’s platforms tells me if you haven’t already linked your accounts, then you might be doing it sooner or later. What do you think of this change? Tell us in the comments below.