Are you a clever Australian using the United States-centric Xbox Games Store for cheaper games? I won’t lie: I certainly was.

It looks like Microsoft may have just closed that loophole.

Users who’ve placed their Xbox Ones in the United States region and purchase content in $ USD using American Express cards or PayPal accounts are reporting that transactions are no longer being processed, according to posts on Australia’s Whirlpool forum.

These reports come after a week of turbulence on Xbox Live, where purchasing and content usage have been down sporadically all week.

This writer has just attempted a AMEX-based purchase only to receive a message that reads “Use a different way to pay. Your purchase can’t be completed with this payment option. Try a different or new way to pay.” I’ve been using my AMEX and the US Games Store for approximately a year without issue.

While some on Whirlpool are reporting issues, others are saying they’re still able to purchase DLC without issue. Users are still able to purchase Xbox.com credit via Amazon.com and use it in the US store.

We’ve asked Xbox Australia for clarification on the matter.

What do you think: a temporary problem, or a purposeful fix?

Thanks, MMGN.