Microsoft’s ID@Xbox program has reached a huge milestone by paying $5 billion to independent game developers since it started in 2013. This program helps small game studios publish their games on Xbox. In just the last year, more than 1,000 new indie games have been released through the program.
Back in 2020, Microsoft had paid about $2 billion to indie developers. By 2022, that number grew to $2.5 billion. Now, it has doubled to $5 billion, showing how successful the program has become for small game makers.
Many popular games have come from ID@Xbox. Games like Balatro, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, and Phasmophobia all launched through this program in the past year. These games have brought new and exciting experiences to players on both Xbox consoles and PC.
The program does more than just help publish games. Xbox now lets people play these indie games in many different platforms. You can play on Xbox consoles, PC, gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X, phones, tablets, and even some smart TVs through cloud gaming.
Guy Richards, who runs ID@Xbox, said, “We’re proud to offer developers the ability to use our platform to reach an audience across multiple screens.” This means game makers can get their games to more players.
A helpful feature called Xbox Play Anywhere lets players buy a game once and play it on both Xbox and Windows computers without paying extra. Players can also keep their progress when switching between devices. Microsoft says this feature has made people play these games 20% more.
To help game makers from different backgrounds, Microsoft created the Developer Acceleration Program (DAP). This program supports over 200 teams from many countries by giving them funding and reducing costs. Recent successful games from this program include Botany Manor and Mullet Madjack, which you can play through Xbox Game Pass.
Looking ahead, ID@Xbox has many exciting games coming soon. Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Descenders Next, and the much-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available across Xbox devices.
During a recent game conference in San Francisco, Microsoft showed off games from developers in 10 different countries. These included games like Winter Burrow from Denmark, Detective Dotson from India, and Promise Mascot Academy from the United Kingdom.
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