The Google Play Points program was launched a few years ago as a way to encourage customers to — you guessed it — buy more things from the Play Store. For every $1 spent on stuff like applications and IAPs, participants receive at least one point. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can use them to make new purchases. However, the redemption process has been cumbersome thus far, requiring customers to go through many steps. With a new adjustment that allows you to cash in points straight when completing a purchase, this appears to be getting simpler.
According to 9to5Google, Google now allows you to use your collected Play Points like cash when making a purchase, effectively eliminating the requirement to convert points into a gift card in order to use them. To convert points in the previous system, you needed a minimum balance of points.
As soon as this is available, you’ll notice a new area within the typical purchase screen prompting you to “Use points” in addition to your usual payment options. When you tap, you’ll see two options: you can spend points $1 at a time (or whatever your local currency is) at a cost of 100 points, or you can spend them all at once.
If you’re already a Play Points member, you’re surely aware that thanks to a complex four-tier incentive structure, you can earn points faster. You can move to Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum depending on how much you spend on the Play Store or how many points you earn. And the higher your level, the more points you gain – for every $1 spent on Platinum, for example, you get 1.4 points.
If you can’t seem to find something worthwhile to spend your points on, Google also gives the option of donating them to a good cause, however this service is currently only available in the United States and Korea.
