If you're a developer, you're probably feeling like there's less and less reason to actually release a game on Xbox these days. Even with its low install base removed, Xbox Game Pass is no longer the biggest deal in gaming like it was a few years ago, and the removal of Xbox sections from supermarkets like Target, Costco, and Sam's Club further reduces the platform's visibility.
And now, on top of all that, it looks like the cost of actually developing a game for the Xbox console is going to get a lot higher. According to a new report from The Verge, Xbox has informed developers that it plans to increase the price of Xbox development kits, which studios use to build games for Xbox systems.
Xbox is also increasing the prices of its development kits.
It will not be a small increase either. The Verge reports that the price of the Xbox development kit will increase by 33%, from $1,500 to $2,000. This means it will cost much more for developers to make games for Xbox systems, especially for smaller studios.
An announcement Xbox sent to developers about the price increase said the reason for the price increase was to “reflect macroeconomic developments,” but that the company was “committed to providing high-quality tools and support for development efforts.” If that excuse sounds familiar, it's exactly the one Xbox used to justify the Xbox Series X and S price increases.
It's certainly not an issue that will really affect the average Xbox user, but it's concerning to see Xbox becoming a more expensive platform in almost every way. It's now harder to make games for Xbox and for Xbox fans to play them in the first place. I may not be a professional businessman, but to me that doesn't sound like the wisest strategy for reviving a dying ecosystem.
- brand
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microsoft
- original release date
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November 10, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$499
- operating system
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Proprietary (Windows-based)
- processor
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Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2 3.8GHz
- solve
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720p – 4K UHD
