Not only will Microsoft be allowing indie developers to self-publish their titles on the Xbox One, but any retail console will double as a developer – or debug – machine. This is big news as development kits have, in the past, cost substantially more than retail consoles.
It’s perhaps the first sign that Microsoft realise the worth of independent developers going in to the next generation and while developing on your console may cost a fee a la Apple’s system, it’s very much a win for Microsoft.
This should mean, however, that every Xbox One console can run in-progress (debug) game code, which should make it easier for us to preview upcoming titles on Xbox One without having a separate system. So, good news all round.
Previously, Sony have said that they would distribute debug PS4 systems to Universities, confirming that not all PS4s will act as development kits.
There will be more information on this at Gamescom, which should be massive this year. Xbox Corporate VP, Marc Whitten, issued a full statement to Engadget, saying:
“Our vision is that every person can be a creator. That every Xbox One can be used for development. That every game and experience can take advantage of all of the features of Xbox One and Xbox LIVE. This means self-publishing. This means Kinect, the cloud, achievements. This means great discoverability on Xbox LIVE. We’ll have more details on the program and the timeline at gamescom in August.”
quinkill
Still not good enough i’m afraid. Microsoft should have figured this out for the announce. Playing catch up is too little too late IMO.
Stefan L
I hate the sound of flip flops.
xdarkmagician
This is huge, it also mean that Xbox One might get a mod community. The best part about PC gaming is the mods, if MS can bring mods to a console it’ll influence my decision, mostly because of games like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, but for any game mods adds replay value.
KeRaSh
Did I miss something? How would this enable mods? Surely they will not allow content created through this program to access full games and vice versa.
xdarkmagician
If MS is willing to let every Xbox owner develop with the console, they might support mods. Theres alot of PC devs that actually support mods, so maybe MS will allow people to buy mod kits, or allow developers to have the option to release a console mod kit. Its not that the Xbox One finally makes it physically possible to mod, as that what I think people got from my comment, but that maybe we’ll finally get “official” support to mod from developers oran actual console manufacture . The PC proves that mods don’t hurt sales, just because someone can mod a CoD map to play unofficially, or off-line doesn’t mean they won’t buy official DLC. And with official support and actual dev mod kits, console mods would be more reliable and easier to make and install. All I’m saying is if MS wants it to be easy for anybody and everybody to develop, maybe they’ll also start to embrace the mod community a little more which will open the door for better support. Its just a thought.
KeRaSh
Ah, I thought the fact that mods would be supported was directly taken out of their PR release. Mod support shouldn’t be a problem, but it probably won’t catch on. UT3 supported mods on the PS3, right?
If there’s a game that will support mods on next gen consoles, it will probably be Witcher 3. They released their Red Kit and will do the same for their next game(s) so then it’s just a question of wether it’s possible on the PS4 and Xbox One.
yiddo
You mean how the PS3 supported mods for Unreal Tournament III?
It’s easily possible already on console – as Sony have proven. This changes nothing in regards to mods. Though, I would like to see mods become a regular thing on consoles too. Would be nice.
blarty
Then where are the minecraft mods for 360 – the developers themselves they’d start to look into porting some of the later features of Minecraft and some of the more popular mods, although I’ve not heard anything of it since.
yiddo
That’s in regards to Xbox. But it must be easily possible considering how easy it was to add mods into your game on Unreal Tournament III on PS3. Guess they just never followed up on what they promised in Minecrafts case.
blarty
For me allowing mods on a console is far too much trouble from a system, warranty and platform perspective for all concerned.
Dar-Kaus
Keep back peddling MS, sooner or later your bound to hit yourself in the arse.
pdannysan13
Our vision is that we do what Sony does.
blarty
Is there anyway I can +1 this to near infinity?
freezebug2
This is massive, I’m totally bewildered though how they could let public relations and perception of their new Xbox get to such a downtrodden low before announcing something as huge as this.
If this was always the plan, what in Christs name were they thinking to go about the reveal and subsequent announcements the way that they’ve dragged i along without mentioning something as vastly important as this….beggars belief.!!
This could sway people, but it makes me wonder if they’ve allowed the poison to fester for too long before administering the cure. Heads should roll!
Kevatron400
I think that:
a) This almost certainly wasn’t always the plan, but is a reaction to the bad press.
b) Consumers (particularly XBox Loyalists) will be quick to forget such things by the time launch comes around.
c) in terms of Indie Development, I suppose it really depends on how restricted the indie access to the machine is, and how easy it is to develop for, but backtracking like this is certainly better than not backtracking at all.
KeRaSh
This most definitely has not been planned since day one.
They specifically said that self publishing would not be possible on the Xbox One. Why would they take the PR hit of such an announcement when they in fact were going to allow self publishing afterall?
More Microsoft PR bullshit that makes it seem like they really think we’re idiots…
bunimomike
Funny to see how Sony/Cerny was chatting merrily with scores of developers about the next gen console but Microsoft looks to have been in a time capsule when laying out the plans for theirs.
All of this unfolding just compounds things but it’s still good to see.
freezebug2
Yeah, I think that we can all agree on the timing that this decision was made. Whether they think people are idiots or not and believe otherwise, they’d be wise not to underestimate or patronise their customer base because it can return with a sharp bite on the arse…..ewww!
That said, I think that they are heading in the right direction and turning the corner with the XBoxOne, it’s going to become desirable again for many doubters.
JR.
That’s nice. Do we have the official release date for the PS4 yet?
Eldave0
Let’s see:
Step 1) Piss off customers to the point that the very mention of your brand results in a sea of ASCII middle-fingers and general abuse.
Step 2) Make console open to everyone, supporting custom (read: malicious) code
…yep, I can see that working out for them.
I can see a lot of hacking scandals this generation.
Pete_UK
I’m not sure on the whole idea this was leaked; MS might be lining up a cheeky PR one-two for Gamescom.
Starman
Seems nobody has considered that they are gradually releasing info each week/day rather than dumping it all at once and most of it being forgotten and not covered?