UK retailers stocking Facebook Credits
Game and Tesco are first to sell social network's virtual currency giftcards
Facebook Credits - the virtual currency used by leading social network games such as FarmVille - go on sale in branches of Tesco and Game this week.
The Telegraph reports that other retailers are likely to follow suit, thanks to the growing catchment of social games. Over 200 million users now play games on Facebook, the social network has claimed.
Confirmed Euan Ballantyne, head of cards at Tesco Bank, "We now offer a range of gift cards and social gaming is becoming increasingly popular, so we are pleased to offer what might be an ideal Christmas present."
The virtual currency is accepted by around 200 games and apps, with Facebook determined to grow that to an overwhelming majority. It recently struck a deal which guaranteed Zynga games would exclusively adopt Credits for at least the next five years, which appeared to hamstring the FarmVille-maker's own virtual currency plans.
Facebook takes a 30 per cent cut of all Credits-based in-game transactions.
Facebook Credits cards have been available at US retail for several months, including at 1750 branches of Target, while they have also found their way to outlets in Australia and Asia via micropayment firm MOL.