57. Microsoft unveils ID@Xbox at Gamescom 2013 for indie devs. Revamps certification process and allows self-publishing on console. Confirms European launch line-up for console.
Microsoft decided to reveal its ID@Xbox program at Gamescom 2013 to further sooth not only those that had been hating on the console but the indie development community that chose Sony over self-publishing rights. The program is mainly for indie developers to create and publish digital games on Xbox One. Unlike its previous indie development processes, such as paying a non-refundable amount for SDKs on Xbox 360 and then requiring a third party publisher (or Microsoft) to publish your game (which was eventually scrapped), Microsoft promised to accommodate everyone into the program. Be it a team of hundreds or a single developer, anyone could sign up to develop and self-publish games for the Xbox One with access to functions such as Kinect, SmartGlass and more. Microsoft further went on to revamp certification process, thus ensuring that indie devs didn’t need to go through the nightmarish process again and again when patching their releases.
