Microsoft yesterday confirmed South African launch details for Xbox Live, the gaming service designed for its popular console. The service will go live on 10 November.
The announcement came with pricing information and details of how local gamers can migrate their existing accounts to the South African region. Until now, gamers have had to use workarounds to register their Xbox Live accounts in a supported region, such as the UK or US.
Non-local account-holders would need to use British- or American-based online stores to purchase activation codes for Xbox Live subscriptions and Microsoft's MS Points currency system. MS Points are used to purchase content such as games, game add-ons and movies on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Xbox Live works on a monthly or yearly subscription format, with the local annual price set at R599. American gamers pay $60 and consumers in the UK pay £40. At current exchange rates, this works out to R410 and R435, respectively.
MS Points are a virtual currency purchased using real money. A 2 100-point MS Points card will cost R299. The British cost for such a card is £20 - but online shops can sell these much cheaper.
Microsoft warns that Xbox Live subscription cards and MS Points cards purchased abroad may not work in SA.
Local gamers are incensed at the South African pricing structure, despite having waited for a local version of the service for four years. The Xbox 360 was introduced in SA in November 2006.
South African gaming forums are ablaze with topics discussing the prices, along with the pros and cons of migrating to the South African version of the service.
On www.xbox-360.co.za, a local fan site, one forum topic asks, “Xbox Live SA a slap in the face?”, and the poster goes on to vent his frustration.
In an unprecedented move, Microsoft has allowed gamers to migrate their accounts from a non-South African region to the local service. Some gamers have stated they will not migrate to the local service as it presents no value to them, in addition to having higher prices.
Other forum posters point out the positives of having a local service. A local pricing model means Xbox owners can readily purchase both Xbox Live subscriptions and MS Points cards without requiring the services of online vendors. The local service will also have content usually restricted by region when using a foreign account.
Microsoft SA was unable to comment on its decision for the pricing structure by the time of publication, but will provide details in the coming days.
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