Microsoft is bringing the '80s back with a new plan for Xbox domination
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
But starting in the late '80s, the rise of video game consoles led to a change in model that raised the hurdles to getting a game built, distributed, and sold. To get into the video game business today, you either need to make a deal with a big publisher, or otherwise figure out some way to get your game distributed and sold.
Now, Microsoft is trying to bring back those earlier days with the Xbox Live Creators Program, a platform that totally knocks down the barriers and lets literally anyone anywhere make a game and sell it from Windows 10 and the Xbox One's digital games store.
"Make no mistake, the Xbox One is now an open platform for publishing," says Chris Charla, director of Microsoft's ID@Xbox independent developer outreach program. "I think it's gonna be rad."
There are a few caveats: These games will be listed under a special "Creators" section of Microsoft's digital games store, and there's a one-time fee of at least $20 to get started. And any games in the Creators program won't be able to use Microsoft's Xbox Live service for online multiplayer.
Still, there's no approval process (though Microsoft is reserving the right to take down any games with illegal or unsavory content), meaning that anyone anywhere can release the game they made to the many millions of Xbox One and Windows 10 gamers out there. And thanks to Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform technology, building a game for Xbox One also makes it work on Windows 10 with a minimum of extra effort.
For players, Charla says, it means that players get access to an even wider range of games from a broad spectrum of developers. And for developers, it removes the barriers to getting started, so the next Elon Musk can find his or her start, too.
And for Microsoft as a whole, it bolsters the selection of games in the Windows Store, which is a key driver in getting people to move up to Windows 10 in the first place.
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- "To sit and talk in the box...!" Kohli's message to critics as RCB wrecks GT in IPL Match 45
- 7 Nutritious and flavourful tiffin ideas to pack for school
- India's e-commerce market set to skyrocket as the country's digital economy surges to USD 1 Trillion by 2030
- Top 5 places to visit near Rishikesh
- Indian economy remains in bright spot: Ministry of Finance
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market