"What we're really trying to do is just lower the friction for developers as much as humanly possible."
The ID@Xbox program has been the major Xbox related focus of this year's Games Developers Conference, with twenty-five new developers announced for the scheme. However, Microsoft don't intend to stop there, confirming that the ability to allow budding developers to use retail Xbox Ones to self publish is still in the pipeline.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Microsoft's Chris Charla has echoed Phil Harrison's statements from earlier in the week on getting more developers on board with the program even with the fact more indies are already working on Xbox One than the lifespan of the Xbox 360.
"We've had huge interest in the programme and we're working really hard to get kits out there as fast as we can,and we've gotten them out there to 250 developers, which turns out to be more than the total number of developers who worked on XBLA during the Xbox 360 era, so we're really pleased with where we are right now, and obviously we're just in the start. So there's a lot of room to grow."
As a reminder; just before the ID@Xbox program was officially announced, it was revealed that every retail Xbox One could become a devkit but said feature wouldn't be ready in time for launch. Currently, indie developers must apply to the program, whereupon a successful applicant is sent two dev kits and a Unity license at zero charge.
Charla didn't share any further details on when the functionality would be activated at the event, but confirmed that the feature is still the plan: "At the end of the day, what we're really trying to do is just lower the friction for developers as much as humanly possible so that it's all about them making the game they have in mind using the unique features of Xbox One."
Chris also believes that the recent addition of Twitch streaming will play a big part of ensuring the success of indie developers on the Xbox One, saying "Everybody knows, if you talk to any independent developer they'll tell you that getting on the radar of a popular streamer or a popular YouTuber can really help them break their game out. And so we think some similar things are going to happen."
Sounds like exciting stuff indeed - if you want more indie-related goodness, check out our chat with Press Play's Lasse Middelbo on punching above your weight as an Xbox One indie developer.
http://www.totalxbox.com/73805/idxbox-director-enabling-retail-xbox-ones-as-devkits-is-still-our-plan/
