In case you haven’t heard, Microsoft is doing away with its MS Points system, in favour of some real, cold and hard cash. Or a digital variant of it. But before the company takes a headfirst plunge into a more fiscally sound marketplace, they’re testing out a beta of the conversion first. With increased prices for games apparently. Not to worry though. That was just an error. Honestly it was.
“We are aware that select regions experienced some incorrect game title pricing in the Xbox Live beta. This was an unintended error that we are in the process of fixing,” a Microsoft representative said to Xbox One Daily.
We’ll be reimbursing impacted beta participants for the difference in what was paid and what the price will be after the update is available to all members.
And this ladies and Germans, is why Beta tests are important. Sure, it’s an error on the part of Microsoft, but it’s the kind of error that gets patched up quickly. And only impacts the poor sods who signed up for it.
As with all betas, we take the learnings from our program and make corrections and adjustments prior to the update being available to all members. As always, we appreciate the participation of our beta customers in helping us launch and build great products.
The price increases were quite a shock for the UK beta testers this week. They reported that games that would previously cost them 1200 MS Points, which could be purchased for £9.99, had jumped upwards of 30% to £11.99. That’s a hell of an increase, when converted to this side.
With the fix coming in on the beta though, there’ll actually be some savings to be made. Just make sure that you use your points up soon, as those new values will not be applied when the existing points are converted.
Last Updated: July 11, 2013
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 11, 2013 at 13:35
Better stock up just for in case dudes…
Drizzt
July 11, 2013 at 13:45
Is it just me or does MS just like stuffing up? It’s one more in a never ending string of failures. Then it’s always some excuse.
Also does this mean that, if you are a UK account subscriber, that you will be paying the Pound value for the items. Surely that mans that as exchange rates fluctuate users will be paying more here in SA?
KingKappie
July 11, 2013 at 13:59
MS did not stuff up it is still in beta so there will be problems
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 11, 2013 at 14:02
If it quacks like a duck and walk like a duck.. it’s probably a duck.. 😛
KingKappie
July 11, 2013 at 14:11
once there was a game called DOTA2 it was in beta for a long time so i guess it is a crap game
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 11, 2013 at 14:26
Two very different issues, my good man.
Being in Beta doesn’t make something crap, however if the DOTA2 beta sold for $500, then yes that would have been a problem. The issue here isn’t that the new pricing system is in beta, but rather that the prices are significantly higher. Ask yourself a question, if the new prices weren’t called out (online), do you think they would have been lowered eventually?
Drizzt
July 11, 2013 at 14:55
Microsoft know their conversion factor for their MS points. How is it that they could not notice the jump in price.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 11, 2013 at 15:00
Exactly, which leaves me with the only other explanation that it was intentional, and they were hoping people wouldn’t notice. A 30% jump on all sales across the service… especially with Minecraft selling so well, would have meant bonuses galore for execs come Christmas.
It’s only a “mistake” because they were caught out.. again!
DARK_SETH
July 12, 2013 at 09:17
Well said!
Slade Boender
July 11, 2013 at 13:53
Chinese new year 2013: Year of the Microflop
Japan just lols.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 11, 2013 at 13:56
Haha
Trevor Davies
July 11, 2013 at 14:05
Just to be clear, is the mistake the price increase, or the fact that people worked out there was a price increase?
Argentil
July 11, 2013 at 14:46
Well, it’s something.