What’s the cause of Xbox neglect? (Microsoft)
A new initiative at Microsoft looks to address ‘pain points’ with developers, specifically calling out to those who have skipped Xbox for other platforms.
With Xbox firmly behind PlayStation and Nintendo in the current console race, it’s perhaps not surprising that some multi-platform games have delayed Xbox ports to a later date, or in some cases, skipped the console entirely.
The reality, however, appears to be more complicated than just sales. As seen with Black Myth: Wukong, it’s sometimes unclear why games are held back months before arriving on Xbox. In the case of Baldur’s Gate 3, it was due to feature parity requirements with the Xbox Series S, whereas for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, it’s all down to exclusivity deals.
However, recently, the developers behind Enotria: The Last Song accused Microsoft of ignoring their requests for help, so sometimes it’s actually Xbox’s fault.
What is the new Xbox initiative?
Microsoft is seemingly trying to rectify the situation through a new Xbox Research initiative, which aims to ‘address pain points’ with developers and ‘enhance the experience of partners across the spectrum of disciplines involved in bringing games to market’.
According to a blog post, Xbox wants to bridge the gap with developers through interviews, playtests, and surveys which will contribute to ‘shaping Microsoft’s offerings’ for game creators.
Deborah Hendersen, principal user researcher at Xbox, said: ‘It’s all about giving game developers what they need to feel empowered and supported by Xbox.’
As part of this initiative, Microsoft specifically calls for feedback from developers who aren’t currently releasing their games on Xbox.
Enotria: The Last Song has been delayed on Xbox (Jyamma Games)
‘If you are making video games, we’re interested in hearing from you,’ Hendersen added. ‘If you aren’t on Xbox, we’d love to know why. And honestly, if you are using our competitor’s products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from!’
They describe this as a method to avoid becoming an ‘echo chamber’, adding: ‘It’s a bit like testing players who play games like yours – they are your target audience and you want to hear fresh perspectives because their expectations may differ from folks who are deep in your community.’
While it’s all admirable stuff, it raises the question of why they’re only asking these questions now, given the Xbox Series X/S launched almost four years ago.
As usual with Xbox, it’s perhaps to instil hope for a brighter tomorrow. Microsoft has already publicly discussed its next generation plans, with talks of a handheld device and unlikely sounding promises of the ‘biggest technological leap ever’.
The big question is when Microsoft plans to launch its next console, with rumours suggesting 2026 might be the key battleground year.
A bunch of new Xbox consoles launch later this year (Microsoft)
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Source:: Metro