Microsoft is opening up Xbox One to virtually everyone interested to make games for it. At the Game Developers Conference on March 1, it announced the Xbox Live Creators Program, a new shtick that'll allow fledgling developers folks to create games for Xbox One and PC platforms.
Want To Publish Your Own Xbox One Games? You Will Soon Be Able To
Everyone can use the Xbox Live Creators Program to make games for the two platforms, as confirmed by Chris Charla, Microsoft's director of the ID@Xbox program. Anyone can simply head over to a retail store, purchase an Xbox One, then build and ship a game for the console, according to Charla.
Xbox Live Creators Program
The new program will coexist with ID@Xbox, another program by Microsoft focusing on self-publishing of indie games both on Xbox One and Windows 10. The chief difference between the two is that the new program will be open to all, according to Charla, and participants can use retail Xbox One units as development units.
"Make no mistake, the Xbox One is now an open platform for publishing," said Charla. "I think it's gonna be rad."
A Few Limitations
But of course, there will be a number of caveats: First, the games borne out of the program will be listed under a special "Creators" category on Microsoft's digital store. Second, there will be a one-time fee ranging from $20 to $100 to get started. Third, any game created using the program won't be able to utilize the Xbox Live service for online multiplayer gaming. They may still, however, use other features such as leaderboards and party chat.
But the big things is that Microsoft won't uphold an approval process of any kind, although it'll still reserve the right to take down games and content as it sees fit. This essentially means that, to reiterate, anyone can go ahead creating and publishing their own games on the system.
"The Creators Program offers a straightforward way for developers to address a huge audience across Windows and Xbox One, with minimal additional development time," says Charla.
Charla says that for players, the opening up of the platform as a publishing haven means that they get access to a broad spectrum of developers. For developers, on the other hand, it removes the barriers to getting started, enabling the Shigeru Miyamoto in the making to get started without the complex hubbub of publishing mumbo-jumbo.
Microsoft is already starting to encourage players to download and use the Xbox Live Creators Program SDK, where they can all about the program. It's currently in preview, so the program will initially pilot with a select coterie of developers. It'll open widely to more developers "soon."
Long story short, you career in game development is now leaps and bounds easier with Microsoft's Xbox Live Creators Program. Keep an eye out for its eventual step out of preview. As usual, if you have any thoughts, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
