In a bid to address recent challenges and delays in third-party game releases, Microsoft is reaching out to game developers for direct feedback on their Xbox development experience.
The tech giant has announced an expansion of its Xbox Research team, opening up a new program similar to Xbox Insider, but specifically tailored for game developers. This initiative aims to gather insights from all members of game studios, not just technical staff, to improve the overall Xbox development ecosystem.
Key points of the new program include:
- Seeking feedback on tools, support, and pain points of the Xbox platform
- Open to all game studio roles, including marketing, user research, artists, and community managers
- Targeting developers who aren't currently releasing games on Xbox to understand their reasons
Dr. Deborah Hendersen, principal user researcher for Xbox, emphasized the importance of this outreach, stating, If we can make your life easier, it makes gaming better.
This move comes in the wake of several high-profile delays and issues:
- Baldur's Gate 3 faced a months-long delay on Xbox due to technical issues with the Xbox Series S.
- Capcom announced a significant delay for two fighting game collections on Xbox, citing technical discussions with Microsoft.
- The developers of Enotria: The Last Song publicly announced an indefinite delay for the Xbox version after struggles with Microsoft's game review process.
By proactively seeking feedback, Microsoft aims to address these challenges and streamline the development process for Xbox games. This initiative could potentially lead to faster releases and a more diverse game library for Xbox players in the future.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, Microsoft's commitment to improving its developer relations and tools could play a crucial role in maintaining Xbox's competitive edge in the console market.
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| A captivating display of Xbox games, symbolizing the vibrant ecosystem Microsoft aims to enhance through direct developer feedback |