Microsoft has revealed the ID@Xbox program is coming to Windows 10. The announcement is both a boon and bane for indies.
The upside is thanks to Microsoft’s dev tools, porting will be easier on Microsoft devices, so devs will be able to bring their games to Xbox One, Windows Phone, and Windows 10 on desktop and tablets all at the same time if they wanted to. They can also offer cross buy and cross play when they sign up with Microsoft’s program.
The downside is the console parity clause Microsoft has enforced on Xbox One. While high profile games like Shovel Knight are getting a free pass, Microsoft seems content to strong arm indies into releasing for their platform first. Microsoft can now claim they’re in a stronger position to push for that.
These games are joining the launch box for the ID@Xbox program on Windows 10:
- Game 4 from The Behemoth
- Ashen
- Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
- Pinball FX2 (cross play and cross buy)
- Pillars of Eternity
- Bierzerkers
- D&D Sword Coast Legends
- Super Dungeon Bros
- Siegecraft Commander (cross play)
- Divinity: Original Sin
- Swordy
- This War of Mine
- Wasteland 2
- Cuphead
- The Long Dark
- #IDARB (cross play)
- Shovel Knight
You can watch a trailer where Microsoft outlines it all below. And yes, this is where they reveal Battletoads in Shovel Knight too
[video_embed][/video_embed]
