Microsoft has shown its commitment to independent Xbox game developers via their ID@Xbox program, which allows indie developers to self-publish their titles to the Xbox Store. Similar to self-publishing ebooks has opened up the market to untold numbers of writers unable to secure contracts with large publishing houses, the ID@Xbox program brings us a wealth of titles that would otherwise languish.
Starting tomorrow, May 3, the ID@Xbox Game Fest event will begin a month-long effort to show off some of the best indie titles available and upcoming. According to the Microsoft Xbox Wire:
“The last year has been awesome for ID@Xbox developers. Just recently, ID@Xbox devs occupied four of the top five slots on both the Top Paid and Top Free charts on Xbox One, which is pretty rad! It’s amazing to be able to celebrate some of the successes developers have had with the ID@Xbox Game Fest, and I’m also really excited to be able to resurface some really great games that I hope people will take the time to check out, such as Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime and Lifeless Planet,” said Chris Charla, Head of ID@Xbox. “Looking at the titles we’re featuring in the ID@Xbox Game Fest, it’s hard to believe so many great titles have come through ID@Xbox over the past couple of years. I’m stoked to go back and replay some of these titles, and check out any gems I may have missed!”
Here’s the schedule for the event, which will run straight through the end of the month:
May 3-9: Discover. ID@Xbox has hosted a number of memorable, outside-the-box games, like The Park, Beyond Eyes, and Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. And that’s just the start. It’s time to broaden your horizons – discover new experiences, new creators, and new ways to play!
May 10-16: Play for Free. Everyone loves free stuff, and Xbox One is home to many top-notch free-to-play titles, such as Smite, Warframe, and ROBLOX. We’ll show you some of the best games from independent developers that you can play for free right now, to get the most bang for your non-buck.
May 17-23: What’s Next. The Xbox Game Preview program has already featured a number of acclaimed titles, including Layers of Fear (which has since graduated to a full release!), The Long Dark, and The Solus Project. We’ve got more games coming to the program, and this is your chance to get early access to tomorrow’s future indie hits, engage with developers, and help shape the next wave of awesome games
May 24-30: Best of ID@Xbox. Finally, we’ve got some great deals on some of the best ID@Xbox games and bundles. Most of these indie standouts need no introduction – we’re talking stuff like Rocket League, Rogue Legacy, The Escapists, and The Banner Saga. If you’ve never experienced them, we’re going to be offering you plenty of incentive to pick some of these modern classics.
Microsoft published a video highlighting the first week:
This is an interactive event that every Xbox fan will be able to enjoy, and so check back for more information as the event wears on. We’ll be sure to do our best to keep you updated on all of the indie Xbox gaming.
