Sleep now, sweet prince: Update ends Microsoft Points on Xbox 360 today

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Xbox Live Arcade’s Microsoft Points system led a long and productive life, but its time is at an end.

When gamers go to power on their Xbox 360 consoles today, they will see a system update that will turn Microsoft Points in the Xbox Live Arcade market into real local currency. This officially brings the Microsoft Points system to a close.

Microsoft will convert your Points into real currency that you can use to make purchases. The process gave me $2.00 that I could apply to any item before paying off the rest with a credit or Points card.

The company released an FAQ that explains what gamers who still have Points cards can expect. Microsoft says it “has no plans to discontinue acceptance of previously purchased Points cards and codes.”

Gamers can continue to purchase Microsoft Points cards at retailers until Microsoft introduces real-currency gift cards later this year.