Microsoft dumping MS Points currency with Windows 8?

New report suggests Microsoft swapping to real money transactions

Tarryn van der BylOctober 8, 2012

Microsoft is replacing its MS Points pretend-munnies with real cash transactions as the default payment system in Windows 8 and potentially also the Xbox Marketplace, according to a report over on the Verge.

The MSP system has previously been the source of some controversy, as the actual cash price point is defined according to region, and conversion to local currencies means users pay more (or less) for the same content as a result of currency fluctuations. For example, 800 MSP in America costs $10, but in South Africa costs around $16-17 (R149).

The system has also been criticised for being somewhat deceptive, by obscuring or – in some cases – seeming to reduce the actual cost of content.

Although MSP are still available as a purchase option on the Windows 8 video rental service, the default is now a credit card charge instead.

Whether or not this will extend to the Xbox Marketplace remains to be seen, but it’s not unlikely this will turn up in the new dashboard update due to launch later this month. Microsoft has not yet officially commented on the matter, though.

With the current (and ongoing) lack of content on the South African Xbox LIVE service, it’s probably not even relevant.