Microsoft just took a big step in the inevitable process of leaving the Xbox 360 in the dust, in favor of the Xbox One and whatever consoles the company puts out moving forward. On it’s official website, ID@Xbox head, Chris Charla announced that the company is going to start shutting down its XNA Creator’s Club and Xbox Live Indie Games program for the 360. At the same time, Charla pointed out that both programs are going strong and reaping big benefits for the Xbox One.
In the announcement, the company said that it wants to make the shutdown of these programs on the 360 as seamless as possible and because of that the actual shuttering is going to go on over the next year. As of September 9, the programs have stopped taking new applications or renewals for the Xbox 360. They will also give those who are currently working on games until September 9 of 2016 in order to finish development. In order to avoid leaving these people in the lurch, they are also saying that anyone with a valid membership in these programs will get a free lifetime membership in the larger Windows Developer accounts program. This is apparently normally a $99 value.
The final step in shutting the programs down will actually take place in 2017 when the store will be shut down and developers will get one final “cashout.” Charla says that people who bought games through this program will still be able to download those games for the foreseeable future. All of this, as Charla himself lays out is in preparation of more actively embracing the ID@Xbox as the official way in which indie developers are able to roll out their video games.
