The recent presentation of the Steam Machine has made it clear that, although its power does not compare to that of the PS5 or Xbox Series X, its main strength lies in the Steam store and its mature development tools.
Over the years, Steam has proven to be an ideal environment for independent developers to launch their games, facilitating access to a large audience without the restrictions traditionally imposed by other platforms.
This ease of publishing has allowed numerous indie titles to go viral on the platform, something that PS5 and Xbox often only enjoy after a late access.
Microsoft offers up to 88% revenue share to developers
Aware of the criticism received regarding the bureaucracy in its publishing system, Microsoft has decided to address this issue by making its ‘Xbox Game Publishing Guide’ public for the first time in over two decades.
According to Ed Stewart from Microsoft, the opening of this documentation will remove learning barriers and make it easier for developers of all sizes to understand the process needed to launch a game on Xbox. The removal of the previously necessary NDAs is a significant step aimed at improving the publishing experience and increasing developer engagement.
Additionally, Microsoft has implemented improvements in its revenue share in the Xbox PC store, allowing developers to receive up to 88% of the profits, compared to the usual standard of 70%. This initiative is increasingly aligning Microsoft’s efforts with those of Steam, seeking a more open and less laborious environment for game publishing.
Microsoft has also shared that its documentation will be continuously updated to reflect the latest regulations and processes, with the hope of fostering a greater amount of content and creation on its platforms.
With these moves, Microsoft shows its commitment to addressing the needs of independent developers, aiming to make the publishing experience much more accessible and seamless.