Xbox Live Monetization For 2012 Will Not Include Free-To-Play Microtransactions

We recently reported on a new monetization method encroaching the Xbox Live subscriber base for the holiday season of 2012. No one really knows what it means but Microsoft makes it clear that the method does not in any way include a free-to-play type microtransaction model.

The original article pointed to a LinkedIn profile where a Microsoft product manager goes over details to further "monetize" the Xbox Live subscriber base, which means an additional feature on top of what Gold members are already paying.

According to an interview with MCVUK [via Strategy Informer], Xbox Live UK product manager, Pav Bhardwaj denies the rumors that the monetization has anything to do with the microtransactions we've seen with other platforms, such as the one Sony has adopted for the PlayStation Network and their subsidiary Sony Online Entertainment, saying...

"Not at the moment, no. We’re not looking at anything like that,"... "Potentially yeah, I think the model we’ve got at the moment with Xbox Live Points is what we’re working to at the moment. It’s really successful for everybody. People are really pleased with it and everyone understands it, which is the most important part of it all. So we wouldn’t change it at the moment."

No reason to translate that...the PR double-speak was absent in the comment. He's basically saying Xbox Live makes a lot of money as it is, it's continuing to make money and the future shows no signs of this changing. So yeah, it's all about "teh moneyz" and as it stands Xbox Live is doing pitch perfect in that arena, or so that's what Microsoft's numbers say.

So I guess this completely squashes the rumors that the MS Points are going anywhere. Oh well, Microsoft has been on a roll lately squashing rumors...I'm curious to see what they have planned for E3 this year outside of rumor squashing. You can check out the full interview over at MCVUK.