Despite the fact that Microsoft"s recent public beta for the next Xbox 360 dashboard requires you to sign an NDA to prevent information disclosure, a tipster has leaked some details concerning the prices of games under the new dashboard to Eurogamer. According to the tipster, Microsoft"s switch to using real-world currency has been completed, but game prices - at least in the U.K. - have gone up as a result.
Also, any Microsoft Points that you had in your account are converted under the current rate for buying Points, and not in relation to the actual cost of games. This means that a game that previously cost 1200 Microsoft Points (MSP) now costs more when MSP are converted into real dollars, as (for example) the game is converted to £11.99 on the store while your 1200 MSP are only converted to £10.20.
Here"s a full list of the conversion changes and losses:
- 1600 MSP → £14.99; previously this was the equivalent of £13.60 (+£1.39)
- 1200 MSP → £11.99, previously £10.20 (+£1.79)
- 800 MSP → £8.99, previously £6.80 (+£2.19)
- 400 MSP → £4.49, previously £3.20 (+£1.29)
U.K. Xbox 360 gamers will no doubt be disappointed by the changes, as they"re effectively losing money through the conversion process. It"s unclear at this stage whether the currency changes affect other locations around the globe, but it seems unlikely the United States would be affected as it"s the home of Microsoft, and all changes are usually based off the U.S. dollar.
Source: Eurogamer | Image via Eurogamer