Amazon launches Xbox LIVE Store
Amazon announced today that it has added a dedicated Xbox LIVE store to its myriad of electronic storefronts. This latest partnership allows customers to purchase Xbox LIVE Arcade games, subscription cards and Microsoft points directly from Amazon. Customers who purchase Xbox LIVE content from Amazon will be provided with a digitally-delivered code that they can redeem via their own console or give as a gift to an Xbox 360 owner. The ability to give a select Xbox LIVE Arcade game as a gift is a feature unique to Amazon’s store — previously, all Xbox LIVE Arcade games had to be purchased through an Xbox 360 console which made it difficult for a non-gamer to give such a gift. The Xbox LIVE store also features Amazon’s typical recommendation system and online customer reviews. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Pretty smart idea! I like it. itones is going down son!
I don’t really see the purpose of this. If you have the means to buy something through Amazon, don’t you have the means to buy it directly through XBL? It just seems tedious. Actually, I know XBL uses that points system, but can you buy something straight through, or do you have to have points? Can you buy points directly through XBL?
Options are always good, and this also gives you the means to give arcade games as gifts which you cant to on Live.
Finally you can give gifts on Live. This was a huge hole in their current platform.
Also, it presumably means that you can Amazon gift cards to purchase these games. Also, I’m not sure if Amazon’s referral program gives credit for downloads, but Xbox Live certainly doesn’t.
You can buy points directly on Xbox Live, but only in set increments. This would allow you to pay the exact price pop in the code and not have extra points you may not want. Its not bad to have the option.
Wow, can some people overthink this or what? Really man… how hard are some of you trying to find something negative to say?
Does this make jaws drop? No. Does it help cure cancer? No.
It’s good for Amazon, is what it’s good for. Pretty cool really, as everyone else has pointed out the benefits of why.
“Actually, I know XBL uses that points system, but can you buy something straight through, or do you have to have points? Can you buy points directly through XBL?”
Actually… why do you even care if you don’t have an Xbox 360 again? You don’t see the purpose of this yet I don’t see the purpose of your comment if you don’t even know how the Live/Arcade/Points system works in the first place.
Nice for people who want to buy games directly using real money, but from a quick glance, it looks like the games are more expensive on Amazon. I’d have to go check the current price of points and the point cost of the games to be certain.
As for the gifting angle, you could always buy XBox Live point cards in stores and give those as gifts, letting the user pick their own game to buy, but of course the point value of the card never lines up with the point cost of a game. Hotdog:bun tactic to get people to spend more, I suspect.