MS indie clause hurting the xbox one and you.

This generation has been amazing for game development. As a game dev working on two unannounced games, I'm thrilled that Steam, MS, Sony and Nintendo have revised their indie stances and have made game development easier and better than ever in making titles for their platforms. However, there is one remaining issue that is crippling game development on one specific platform: the Xbox One. I'd like to take a moment to explain what that issue is, how it has affected development, and what can be done about it.

What is the Indie Parity Clause?

The indie parity clause dates back to the Xbox 360, where MS mandated that you could not release a game on the 360 at a later date than any other version without having exclusive free content for Xbox owners.

Since the launch of the XB1, MS has revised that policy for the worse. Now that loophole is closed, and devs are not allowed to release an XB1 version of their game, period, if they have already released it on PS4. At the time of the indie parity announcement, MS allowed games that were already announced for PS4 to be released at a later date on XB1. Those games included Contrast, Warframe, and many other PS4 launch window titles. There are now no more titles that fall under this loophole.

There are three ways around this clause. The first is to release your game simultaneously on PS4 and XB1. The second is to launch first on XB1 and release a PS4 version later. Finally, the third is asking Phil Spencer for a free pass, which has NDA'd guidelines and specifics that I cannot get into, nor know the specifics of.

Why would this hurt developers?

Indie devs typically have small amounts of staff, and tend to "roll out" games gradually on a number of platforms. While the architecture of XB1 and PS4 may seem similar enough, it's incredibly difficult to simultaneously develop for both platforms at the same time. First off, each one has their own certification process and requirements. One build may pass on one platform, but fail on the other. You have to constantly revise release date estimates until both versions are in line with each other, and even then, you'll have platform specific bugs that you'll have to fix at the same time once both versions launch. It is a bit of a nightmare, to say the least. That's why many devs opt to focus on one platform, typically the biggest one (Steam), and then go from there.

Why not develop for XB1 first?

This is inherently why the parity program exists: to give XB1 exclusive games without the need for exclusive marketing or financial deals. But yes, that's a question that cannot be universally answered. Many devs have their own personal reasons. I can only share my own.

I applied to both the ID@Xbox program and the Sony developer program back in Feb. While both programs are fantastic and have great people behind them, I was able to get my Xbox One dev kit first by a few months. Theoretically this should have allowed me to get started on an XB1 port of my game except for one issue: the engine I use, GM Studio, would not be supporting XB1 until later this year. PS4/Vita support was already built into the engine. So, I started studying PS platform requirements, APIs, and GM Studio integration in preparation for my dev kits which I received last month. Through no fault of my own, I was developing first for Playstation because that's the engine that was available to me via GM Studio. My PS4 game will be ready much earlier than my XB1 version. And despite having an XB1 dev kit, MS doesn't want my game at a later date. They want me to delay my PS4 version until I can get the XB1 version out the door. And that's impossible for me to do from a scheduling and financial standpoint. And so, just like that, I'm unable to make XB1 games, even though I very much want to. Even though I'm an ID@Xbox dev. Even though I have a dev kit right here next to me.

PS4 Indie Game Reveals and Announcements (since Sept. 1st, 2014)

(compiled using the PS Blog and official developer sites. Does NOT include releases or more details on already announced games, only first time reveals of games with the few noted exceptions.)

-Flockers (PS4/XB1 announced on 9/1)

-Super Mega Baseball (PS4/PS3 announced on 9/17)

-Nova-111 (PS4/Vita/XB1 announced on 9/19)

-Thomas Was Alone (PS4/XB1 announced 9/19)

-RIDE (PS4/XB1 announced on 9/19)

-LA Cops (PS4/XB1 announced on 9/20)

-Peggle 2 (PS4 announced 9/24, XB1 version already released)

-Shu ("Playstation Platforms and PC" announced 9/24)

-Moon Hunters (PC/PS4/Vita announced 9/25)

-OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood (PS4/Vita announced 9/25)

-Whoa Dave! (PS4/Vita announced on 9/26)

-Viking Squad (PC/PS4 announced 9/26)

-Spelunky (PS4 port announced on 10/1)

-Fluster Cluck (PS4 announced on 10/1)

-Once Upon Light (PS4 announced on 10/9)

-Rebel Galaxy (PS4 announced on 10/17)

-Lost Sea (PS4 announced on 10/24)

-Costume Quest 2 (PS4/XB1/PS3 and more, announced 10/24)

-Battle Islands (PS4, announced and released 10/24)

-Lost Sea (PS4/XB1 announced 10/25)

-Slasher: Summer Camp Volume 1 (PS4/XB1 announced 10/31)

-Retro City Rampage: DX (PS4/Vita/PS3, announced 11/3)

-Terraria (PS4/XB1 port announced on 11/6)

-Jackbox Party Pack (PS4/XB1 announced on 11/7)

-Henka Twist Caper (PS4 announced 11/10)

-Y2K (PS4/Vita announced on 11/10)

-Armikrog (PS4 announced on 11/10)

-The Banner Saga (PS4/XB1 port announced on 11/10)

-Kyn (PS4 announced on 11/10)

-Toren (PS4 announced on 11/10)

-Roundabout (PS4/Vita announced on 11/11, already announced for XB1)

-Lost Orbit (PS4 announced on 11/11)

-Speakeasy (PS4 announced on 11/11)

-RELATIVITY (PS4 announced on 11/11)

-We Are Doomed (PS4/Vita/XB1 announced on 11/12)

-Gunsport (PS4/XB1 announced on 11/12)

-Tinertia (PS4 port announced on 11/13)

-Capsule Force (PS4 announced on 11/13)

-Klaus (PS4/Vita announced on 11/14)

-Grave (PS4 announced on 11/17, already announced for XB1)

-Gianna Sisters Director's Cut (PS4/XB1 announced on 11/17)

-Aqua Kitty (PS4/Vita announced on 11/18)

-Wander (PS4 announced on 11/19)

-Gunship X (PS4 announced on 11/19, originally announced for Vita)

-ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS (PS4 announced on 11/20)

-Hatoful Boyfriend (PS4/Vita port announced on 11/24)

-Commander Cherry's Puzzled Journey (XB1/PS4 announced on 11/24)

-Ninja Pizza Girl (PS4 announced on 11/25)

-Close Castles (PS4 announced on 12/1, announced playable at PSX)

-Distance (PS4 port announced on 12/2, announced playable at PSX)

-Rocket League (PS4 announced on 12/2, announced playable at PSX)

-Miegakure (PS4 announced on 12/4, announced playable at PSX)

-Ultratron (PS4/XB1 announced on 12/4, announced playable at PSX)

-Blood Bowl 2 (PS4/XB1 announced on 12/4, announced playable at PSX)

-King's Quest (PS4/XB1, announced at PSX)

-Killing Floor 2 (port to PS4, announced at PSX)

-The Forest (port to PS4, announced at PSX)

-Darkest Dungeon (PS4, announced at PSX)

-Bastion (port to PS4, announced at PSX)

-Orcs Must Die: Unchained! (PS4, announced at PSX)

-Skytorn (PS4, announced at PSX)

-Shovel Knight (PS4/PS3/Vita, announced at PSX)

-Super Time Force Ultra (port to PS4, already released on XB1, announced at PSX)

-Wattam (PS4, announced at PSX)

-Enter the Gungeon (PS4, announced at PSX)

-What Remains of Edith Finch (PS4, announced at PSX)

Apparently there have been announce since September some 47 indies which are not announce for xbox one probably for this same reason.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=947986

This is an Indie developer on neogaf several other join into the thread as well and even Phill Spencer was tag on tweeter.

He explains how he even got xbox one kits before PS4 ones and MS miss steps didn't allow him to work on the game because of missing tools,worse he stated that MS want him to delay the freaking PS4 version something he will not do for financial reason..

Ms should drop the shit clause about indies is not working and it is only making indies side step the xbox one,in the end this = less games for lemmings to play and less games on xbox one..On a time where indies are on fire and making better and better games each day.

TL;DR ?

It's obvious indies have moved more to Sony due to shit like this.

Microsoft was king last gen. Sony is this gen.

Now that Sony supports indie developers, they actually mean something to cows.

Sort of like console gamers and frame rate / resolution, right?

If their version is 1080p, then resolution matters. If frame rate is 60, then FPS matters. Otherwise, it's "Gameplay > Graphics, LOL"

Microsoft is douche, more at 11

Naw, PS3 Exclusive 2012 GOTY winner was one of them.

Since mid-tier devs aren't about any more this generation it's definitely a smart move. You're either going to get indie or AAA now so no wonder indies are more prominent.

Don't you realize that in some cases Sony might have paid those devs for exclusivity just like certain third party indies are due to appear on Xbox One and not on any other console? Secondly, Phil Spencer said a couple of months ago that they now loosened up the requirements and frequently work on case by case basis. What a sweeping accusation based on old assumption and what a way to get causativity wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_Yaroze

Before MS was even on the console market it was aimed at Indies...,

This is not about exclusivity it is about the fact that the PS4 is the lead platform because it has sold more than the xbox one and most indies can't make 2 version of the game at the same time.

So they push the PS4 first which is the bigger user base and MS latter but MS refuse to accept the game,have you see those policies on PS3? No sony would accept even if it came to xbox first.

That kind of shit could have work for MS last gen since they had a lead on the PS3 for years,on this gen is not working and indies are side stepping the xbox one as a plague.

Yeah they loosen the requirements is some parts but that specific clause wasn't touch and still on effect that dude i quote is an indide developer dude.

Do you make Indie games for xbox one.? Yeah then you know shit about it.. Several other developer join the thread dude that clause it real,the fun part is how MS want developer to screw the PS4 by delaying the PS4 version classic MS..hahaha

Apparently is not working this gen and 47 games have been announce since september which are not announce for XBO that is a truck load of games..

lol Tormentos thread

@tormentos: Pix the Cat

It's going to hurt PS and PS fans at times. Microsoft is nabbing numerous "timed" games behind the scenes , and Adam Boyes is pissed.

Uhmmmmm ...... nah, no matter how much I try still can´t feel any pain from that "hurt" you are talking about.

the parity clause pillaged my town, raped my women, slaughtered my kids, and shot me in the balls.

also lol at i spent 400 dollars on a machine to play 8 bit games

It's a terrible clause and it's only hurting Xbone only owners.

Thankfully, I own more than an Xbone.

He's mad again...needs to vent somehow.

I do not care about indie games anyways. Over the past few years there is only been a couple I cared about.

@Salt_The_Fries: the fact that ms ever had such policies is problematic. There isn't any damage controlling this just walk away dude.

This is the most shit excuse ever in the arsenal of the Lems this gen. Stuff that mattered to gamers last gen still matters to them. This is why the XBone has been experiencing a year long anal prolapse bent over before the PS4.

Like, as if indies not mattering to Lems now is some kind of argument?

TM;DR !

Everyone remember that one indie game that had numerous news stories, even had some hype on Neogaf. That gamespot thread was kept alive for weeks!

Remember? yeah me neither.

Sony is supporting a lot of indies now because they are CHEAP to get and Sony doesn't have to spend millions to get them on their system. Since the system is easy to develope for now, it's a no brainer. It won't matter much though, as Microsoft, PC, Ouya and all those IOS and tablets will end up with most of these Indies as well in the end. Sony is doing what Nintendo did with the Wii. Just opening the gates and letting whatever games they can get made for their system, no matter the quality.

Simple fix, dont support/buy Xboner, MS follow the money... they are more than happy to change their way if they have to...

I guess that's what happens when you side with a console where they don't give a shit about anyone. First they shit on the early adopters by dropping Kinect support (that's awful, sorry lems), and now they're passing up on the legions of amazing indie games coming out? ****, that sucks. Binding of Isaac Rebirth and Spelunky are amazing and shouldn't be passed up, it's a shame you'll have to play these on the PC.

Do lemmings even know how to use PCs? I mean, all the gamers I know that have gaming PCs are hermits, not lemmings. Otherwise they wouldn't have gaming PCs. :P

Cry me a damn river. A company protecting its consoles secret inner sauce workings. Nothing new.

Yet those 8 bit games are scoring higher than the Master flop collection and FH2 as well..

But but but reviewers are sold out reviews don't matter...hahaha

You poor sad lemming...

Na The binding of Isaac scored higher than Halo...hahaha

If they are so cheap why MS doesn't get them.?

Did you even read the thread before your usual full of shit reply and consequent meltdown.?

The Indie making this thread on neogaf is complaining that because of MS own fault he doesn't can release the game sooner,he got xbox one dev kits before PS4 one but apparently MS was so desperate to get indies back again that they were giving dev kits without the actual tools for make the indie games.

He say that because of MS messing up he could not finish the xbox one version before the PS4 when he could have,and now since the XBO version is running late MS want them to delay the game on PS4 or not put it on xbox one,which apparently is what the developer will do and what other are also doing.

MS is fu**ing up it own console.

Sony is not paying for this games sony is getting them by default because MS want developers to delay their games on PS4 so that the versions could be release at the same time which is totally damaging to small indie developer who already don't have a huge stream of money coming.

That is a totally bullshit justification since when a damn android table compete with the PS4.? Since when Ios compete with the PS4 not even the damn PC competes with the PS4 different markets dude they have always been.

So those games hitting Android mean shit when they are not hitting the xbox one which is the direct competition of sony.

That is funny because several of those indies have been very good quality since launch like Resogun,Towerfall,velocity,the binding of issac and many more some even outscore games like Halo MCC,HF2 and titanfall.

A what... hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa those developer already have xbox one kits idiot..hahaha

Damn you people are so use to be fu** up by MS that you don't care what ever crap they don't badly and that clearly hurt you as a gamer...

Waiting for Ori to arrive so i can have some fun with lemmings..hahaha

They should really fix that silliness. I haven't bought any indie games for the PS4 though, and don't really plan on it unless something really good jumps out on me that isn't on PC. There's been a big reliance on indie games oddly this generation.

because they aren't graded on the same scale. if those 8 bit games were 60 dollar titles, they would all be 1-3/10 rated. I don't play scores, and can care less about indie games. sure maybe a couple of them a gen are worth playing in between titles. How about this, android is the top gaming system, it has millions of games. way more then PS4/X1 lets just pretend they aren't all crap ok ;)

Out of curiosity what would you be saying right now if it were the other way around?

The Xbox doesnt need indies, indies are stupid, lame games for people who watn to play old games and relive old times, no way grandpa, indies belong in PeeS4 and games belong on Xbox.

Not only do I love Xbox but I hate all the orphans in the world.

and 2/3 of them will be complete shit!!!

Hahahaa......sure they are..

Man stop...

Yeah that is why Minecraft a game that look like shit is on the top of xbox live and the reason why MS payed 2.5 billion for it because indies are lame..hahaha

I guess xbox fans love lame games...

Great that is the same ratio of shitty to good games ration on the industry...for every great game 2 or 3 suck...

I 100% agree with TC.

Excellent question. My answer would be nothing. I would be enjoying all those great games on THE WON.

hahaha the Xbox won, that's good. But shouldn't it be "Xbox won once"?