The indie scene "is not going anywhere" on Xbox – as long as it can thrive
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The "Next Level" edition of the Paris Games Week convention opened its doors to visitors on November 1. Many of its attendees didn't hesitate to head towards their favorite platform holder's stand to begin their day, whether it be to try out Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on the PlayStation stand or the latest instalment of the Mario series at Nintendo's spot in Hall 1.
Xbox fans were greeted by a different proposition: while Starfield and Forza Motorsport were highlights of the stand, Microsoft's gaming branch also decided to put games such as developer Don't Nod's Jusant under the spotlight on a part of its stand dedicated to a selection of Xbox Game Pass standout titles.
The minimalist climbing game, released a day before the beginning of the Paris Games Week, is a self-published title that was supported by the ID@Xbox initiative, destined to provide support to independent developers and help them self-publish titles on Xbox platforms.
Despite a year during which Phil Spencer's clan shifted its focus towards completing the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, Xbox still decided to put a handful of third-party and independent games forward, through its Game Pass subscription or during showcases. The expansion of the company's number of first-party studios is not going to rid Xbox of its independent creators, the platform holder tells GamesIndustry.biz.
"We have to emphasise that independent creators have never been more important to Xbox and they will continue to be," says ID@Xbox director Guy Richards. Richards confirmed the program, which began ten years ago and was expanded earlier this year, will continue to bolster creators in need
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