Microsoft Removing Gun-like Avatar Items From Sale

I?ve never really seen the appeal of spending real money on your Xbox 360 Avatar, especially given that they?re rarely used inside games (apart from some Indie games, of course). ?I?m aware that people do, mind, my Friends section of the new dash is populated by little guys wearing and holding all kinds of things.

According to ?Raczilla? over on the Epic forums, though, those guys won?t be holding weapons ? or at least won?t be able to buy new ones, come the new year.

?Starting on Jan. 1, 2012, the Lancer and Hammerburst avatar items will no longer be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace,? says the post. ?If you?ve purchased the items prior to Jan. 1, you will be able to keep them. A new policy goes into effect for all gun-like avatar items on the Marketplace, so get them while they?re hot.?

I?m assuming that this is because whilst games with guns are safely behind age rating, the option to view Avatars holding them is not: they?re right there on the dashboard. Whilst it makes sense on one level, what happened to Microsoft?s ?hardcore? gamer stance?

Source: http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/12/24/microsoft-removing-gun-like-avatar-items-from-sale/

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