We have 1 Year to spend our Microsoft Points, or they expire...

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So, Microsoft has officially announced it is going to "Local Currencies" and because of this, all the points we have purchased will be transferred over.
However, these transferred currencies will have a expiration period of 1 yr from the time it is transferred (Roughly Fall 2014) before they become unusable.

There's been a few things that I haven't posted from the E3 press conferences that took place on Monday, one of them being the transition from Microsoft Points to local currency. Microsoft announced the retirement of MS Points during its E3 press conference on Monday, and many people are excited for this because converting MS Point values into real money to figure out prices in our heads was a bit of an inconvenience. Yesterday, Microsoft posted a FAQ on the transition, and there's one aspect that really concerns me.

The second question asks "How does this change affect me?" Here's the answer that follows.

You will begin using local currency or an Xbox Gift Card (denominated in your local currency) to buy music, games, videos, and more from your favorite Xbox stores. When you use your existing Microsoft Points to initiate a purchase or redeem a Points card with your Microsoft account later this year, we’ll deposit into your account an amount of money equal to or greater than the marketplace value of your Microsoft Points, and your Microsoft Points will be retired. The purchased funds you deposit into your account after the transition will not expire. However, the funds we deposit into your account at the time of the transition will expire one year from the deposit date.

The part we want to focus on are the last couple sentences. "The purchased funds you deposit into your account after the transition will not expire. However, the funds we deposit into your account at the time of the transition will expire one year from the deposit date."

Basically what this means is that the Microsoft Points that are in your account right now will be converted to your local currency this fall when the update hits. These converted points will have an expiration date of one year, meaning you have until the fall of 2014 to use that money.

Your Microsoft Points stashed in your XBL account right now is a ticking time bomb.

Any points redeemed after the transition will not expire though. But I doubt many people really keep unused Microsoft Point cards lying around. [Edit: Actually this may not be true, it seems like MS Points may expire regardless.]

This is a slap in the face when recently, Microsoft issued a $10 coupon to the Microsoft Store immediately after the Xbox One reveal in May. Many users took advantage of the coupon to buy $15 worth of Microsoft Points for $5 after discount. People who have redeemed those points now will eventually have to use up their MS Points by fall of 2014 or else they will forfeit that money.

Money redeemed for the PlayStation Network and the Nintendo eShop do not expire.

So just a bit of a heads up. If you still have Microsoft Points in your Xbox Live account, be sure to know that you have about 16 months until those points expire after MS converts those points into your


http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/54533/your-microsoft-points-will-expire-within-one-year-when-microsoft-transitions-to-local-currency

 
Sucks for those people who loaded up after the 1200pts for $5 deal. Looks like that also means old 1600 points cards will become defunct. Would've been cool to find cheap bundles here or there with MSP included and have them still work on the One, similar to how original Xbox Live cards still worked on the 360. 

Ah well.

 
Well hey, worst case scenario I buy a game from the marketplace on the ONE. *&%^ knows I have enough microsoft point's from the Target then the Microsoft Store mixup.

 
As someone who took my fair share of that ms store coupon glitch, I have to say that it is takes some serious mental gymnastics to think that this transition to currency is a slap in the face of people who took advantage of said glitch.
 
I guess I have about a year to spend my 100 points that I have had stored away forever. I'm more interested in this "Xbox Gift Card" that they speak of. As long as I can buy XBLA games and DLC with cash, I'm good with this change.

 
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