Even after announcing a 180-degree turn on its upcoming used gaming policies, Xbox has continued to fall behind in popularity with both gamers and developers due to Microsoft’s – arguably greedy – business practices. In an effort to appease developers and keep up, Microsoft has decided to stop charging developers to update their games.
Previously, developers had to pay tens of thousands of dollars to update/patch their games post-launch on Xbox. This has pushed many developers more towards Sony, since the PlayStation 3, and upcoming PS4, don’t charge developers to patch their games – or at least don’t charge nearly as much.
The Impact on Indie Developers
The reason Microsoft charges developers for updates, at least according to Microsoft, is to discourage them from publishing unfinished projects and simply patching them later. It sounds like a good reason, but what Microsoft was charging companies tended to lean toward the astronomical end of the spectrum – in my opinion anyway. This policy has been particularly burdensome for indie developers, who often operate on tight budgets and cannot afford the high fees associated with post-launch patches. By eliminating these fees, Microsoft is opening the door for more indie developers to bring their games to the Xbox platform. This could lead to a surge in creativity and innovation, as smaller studios are now able to update and improve their games without the fear of financial penalties.
Potential Benefits for Triple-A Titles
Microsoft will still reserve the right to charge developers who excessively make update requests, but will no longer charge a flat rate. Could this lead to a new beginning of indie games for Xbox? Will more triple-A titles take better care of their games post-launch now? For triple-A developers, the removal of these fees could mean more frequent and higher-quality updates. In the past, some developers may have been hesitant to release patches due to the associated costs, leading to prolonged periods where games remained in a suboptimal state. With the financial barrier removed, developers can now focus on delivering a polished and enjoyable experience for players, addressing bugs and adding new content more readily.
Moreover, this change could also enhance the competitive landscape between Xbox and PlayStation. Sony has long been seen as more developer-friendly, particularly with its more lenient patching policies. By aligning its practices more closely with Sony’s, Microsoft may be able to attract more developers to its platform, ultimately benefiting gamers with a wider selection of high-quality titles.
What do you think?
Source – IGN
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