In yet another stunning policy change, Microsoft has made it easier for indie publishers to develop for the Xbox One. Game Informer‘s sources say that developers will be able to make the call on their games’ release dates and pricing. Additionally, Microsoft is looking to make its certification process more like iTunes, with a targeted 14-day window from submission to approval. The standard Xbox One will be able to be converted into a debug console that allows for game development.
Microsoft is also making the certification process much easier. Examination of game code will be much less strict, mainly covering TOS breaches and game-breaking bugs. Microsoft’s Xbox corporate VP Marc Whitten told Engadget: “Our vision is that every person can be a creator. That every Xbox One can be used for development . . . This means self-publishing. This means Kinect, the cloud, achievements. This means great discoverability on Xbox Live.” He also said that more information would be forthcoming at Gamescom this August.
At E3 last month, Sony was very vocal about its support for indie developers, showing off a series of indie titles that would be available for the system. With this move, Microsoft is also trying to win indie developers’ affections and become more competitive with Sony’s system. Hopefully this news will translate into a more acceptable environment for indies on Microsoft’s new console.
Source: GamesIndustry International
