Xbox Live Price Increases Are An "Unintended Mistake"
Microsoft says the increased prices seen in the Xbox Live beta test that's currently underway are a mistake and will be fixed.
Xbox Live users in the U.K. recently reported some disturbing news regarding the transition from Microsoft points to real money, currently being tested in the U.K. and other markets. As a result of the change, game prices had undergone a rather significant price increase [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125849-Xbox-Live-Currency-Conversion-Results-In-Hefty-Price-Hike], as much as 33 percent in some cases. Some people suggested that Microsoft was simply using the opportunity to bring its pricing in line with that of the PlayStation Network, but as it turns out, the whole thing was just a mistake - and even better, people who lost money because of it will get it back.
"We are aware that select regions experienced some incorrect game title pricing in the Xbox Live beta," a Microsoft rep told VentureBeat. "This was an unintended error that we are in the process of fixing. 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."
It's not an iron-clad guarantee that prices won't go up and the bit about "what the prices will be after the update is available" suggests that they actually might. But the rep also pointed out that, as a beta test, this sort of thing is going to happen from time to time. "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," the rep said. "As always, we appreciate the participation of our beta customers in helping us launch and build great products."
Source: VentureBeat [http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/10/microsoft-fixing-incorrect-game-pricing-for-the-xbox-live-beta/]
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Microsoft says the increased prices seen in the Xbox Live beta test that's currently underway are a mistake and will be fixed.
Xbox Live users in the U.K. recently reported some disturbing news regarding the transition from Microsoft points to real money, currently being tested in the U.K. and other markets. As a result of the change, game prices had undergone a rather significant price increase [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125849-Xbox-Live-Currency-Conversion-Results-In-Hefty-Price-Hike], as much as 33 percent in some cases. Some people suggested that Microsoft was simply using the opportunity to bring its pricing in line with that of the PlayStation Network, but as it turns out, the whole thing was just a mistake - and even better, people who lost money because of it will get it back.
"We are aware that select regions experienced some incorrect game title pricing in the Xbox Live beta," a Microsoft rep told VentureBeat. "This was an unintended error that we are in the process of fixing. 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."
It's not an iron-clad guarantee that prices won't go up and the bit about "what the prices will be after the update is available" suggests that they actually might. But the rep also pointed out that, as a beta test, this sort of thing is going to happen from time to time. "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," the rep said. "As always, we appreciate the participation of our beta customers in helping us launch and build great products."
Source: VentureBeat [http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/10/microsoft-fixing-incorrect-game-pricing-for-the-xbox-live-beta/]
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