Microsoft ID@Xbox Program Payouts Surpass $5 Billion in Royalties

Microsoft’s ID@Xbox: A Gateway for Indie Developers

Since its inception in 2013, Microsoft’s self-publishing initiative for independent game developers, known as ID@Xbox, has evolved into a pivotal aspect of the company’s gaming strategy. In a recent blog post by Guy Richards, the director of ID@Xbox, a series of remarkable statistics underscoring the program’s achievements were unveiled.

Substantial Revenue for Indie Developers

The ID@Xbox program has dispensed an astounding $5 billion in royalties to independent developers. This impressive figure includes compensation for creators of popular titles such as Balatro, S. T.A. L.K. E.R.2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Phasmophobia.

Enhancing Game Accessibility with Xbox Play Anywhere

A key focus area for Microsoft is amplifying the reach of games supported by the Xbox Play Anywhere feature. This innovative capability allows gamers to buy a title on one Xbox platform and seamlessly access it across other devices without incurring additional costs. Currently, this feature is compatible with Windows PCs, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One, enabling players to enjoy shared saves, progress, and achievements across platforms.

Interestingly, Microsoft reports that implementing Xbox Play Anywhere has resulted in a significant 20% increase in playtime for developers on Xbox platforms. To date, over 1, 000 games have embraced this feature, signaling its popularity and efficacy.

Supporting Game Developers Through the Developer Acceleration Program

In addition to ID@Xbox, Microsoft is committed to fostering innovation through its Developer Acceleration Program. This initiative supports more than 200 teams and creators worldwide by:

Hosting information sessions with leading studios
Providing funding for ports and prototypes
Helping to minimize costs associated with game development for Xbox platforms

The program fosters innovation for over 200 teams and creators from different countries around the world. We help developers by hosting information sessions with studios, providing port and prototype funding, and helping to reduce costs of bringing games to Xbox and building new ideas.

Embracing a Multi-Platform Future

The announcements from Microsoft reiterate the company’s goal to make games accessible across all platforms. They emphasize their collaboration with developers to leverage the unique features of each gaming device. In a notable mention, Hollow Knight: Silksong was also identified as part of the ID@Xbox lineup, although specific release details were not disclosed.

Source & Images