By Rendering it more Steam-like, you might assert
We have previously learned how some indie creators have experienced difficulties in delivering their games to Xbox for various reasons – instances like The Mortuary Assistant, for instance, which had to face delays exclusive to Xbox.
Though it’s not a frequent occurrence, Microsoft understandably aims to make the process as effortless as possible for developers and publishers to release their games on Xbox. Hence, they’re granting access to the Xbox Game Publishing Guide for everyone starting this week. Even we can take a look at it for ourselves!
The intention behind this is to enable all prospective developers and publishers to “plan, prepare, and launch their games for Xbox”, encompassing consoles, PCs, and handheld devices. Here’s a bit more information:
“Today, we’re simplifying the process for developers and publishers to gain insights into bringing games to Xbox. The Xbox Game Publishing Guide now provides publicly accessible insights from sign up to launch, enabling anyone to discover how to plan, prepare, and release their games for Xbox on PC, Handhelds, and Xbox consoles.”
“By unveiling our Game Publishing Documentation, we’re eliminating barriers to knowledge and facilitating easier understanding for teams of all sizes about what it requires to launch a game on Xbox. Whether you’re a novice independent developer or an experienced publisher, you can now freely explore the guide, share it with your team, and reference it throughout the development process.”
Microsoft states that the documentation will continue to evolve and enhance over time, and developers may utilize a dedicated Discord to converse and exchange information alongside other communities.
Notably, this comes at an intriguing time with the Steam Machine set to arrive in early 2026, alongside speculation that Xbox is striving to merge a console/PC hybrid for the next Xbox console. Simply put, the era of players being confined to a closed console ecosystem is starting to seem outdated, and it appears Microsoft acknowledges this shift as well.
Ultimately, it’s fantastic to observe developers and publishers receiving enhanced support for Xbox!
What are your thoughts on this? Share with us in the comments section below.
[source developer.microsoft.com]
Fraser is the News Editor at Pure Xbox, where he dedicates his efforts to reporting on the largest stories within the Xbox realm and beyond.