2019-03-01_Xbox_The_Official_Magazine

get that Xbox store-positioning when
your game launches so people can
see it. They can help direct people who
might like a game to buy it.” There’s
even financial support, too. “If you
make an exchange for exclusivity, you
can actually get some development
funding,” continues Wilson. “That’s
usually quite a generous amount and
non-recoupable.”
Still, if you are a budding game
developer you’ll need to be prepared.
“You have to come with a game,”
says Wilson. “Come with a working
prototype. You can’t just come to
ID@Xbox with an idea for a game. So
there’s the initial hurdle of building
something that’s going to compel
people. The ID@Xbox team look at a
lot of games and they have to pick the
ones that have the best potential for
success. Once they see your game’s
potential they can really help you
deliver on it.” Thankfully, the game
you make is up to you and can be
absolutely anything you want. “I think
normally when you pitch a game to
platform holders they’re looking for
something that fits their portfolio,”
says Flashbulb Games’ head of

production Ole Teglbjærg. “The ID@

Xbox program seems like more of a

free space. They don’t really have a

portfolio to fill, they just want to do

quality stuff with indie developers.”

However, you’re going to need to get

creative to stand out from the crowd.

“Make sure that whatever you’ve got

has at least one extremely unique

aspect to it because the games

industry is getting more and more

crowded with extremely talented

teams,” says Krankel. “Make sure you

do the right thing for your team and

not try to chase a trend. For us that’s

sort of been our guiding principle the

last few years. I mean, we didn’t do

a battle royale Oxenfree [laughs]. I

think that’s probably the key thing.

Don’t chase the trends, because, at

least with the ID@Xbox team, they

really responded to us doing what was

authentic to our team.”

Success story

The reputation of publishers can be

that they’re controlling overlords

that veto creative decisions or

burden developers with a checklist of

requirements. Microsoft may be as big

as they come but when it comes to

independent developers, and getting

their games onto the Xbox One, their

priority is for developers to make great

games. “That’s one of the beautiful

parts of the program,” say

“We actually have a lot of f

It’s not like they get to dec

any of the content in the g

A sentiment shared with th

founders of StudioMDHR, t

developers of Cuphead. “It

one of the best things in th

world to have, especially

for the console space,”

says Chad Moldenhauer.

“Aside from getting

over all the hurdles

of creating a game, this

sidesteps the other hurdle

ABOVE Dead

Cells.

BELOWClockwise

from left:

OXM

SAYS

Indie games are some of the

most intriguing and

excellently paced games

you’ll find anywhere, and it’s

a real credit to Microsoft and

ID@Xbox that they’ve

nurtured so much creativity

to flourish from the brilliant

developers involved.

Chris

Burke

Many developers within the

indie scene strive to think out

of the box, often providing a

refreshing approach to art

styles, character design and

experimentation within

established genres.

ID@Xbox, as a platform,

champions that creativity.

Warren

Brown

Some of the best games I’ve

ever played have come

through the ID@ Xbox

program. The one that

sticks in my mind most is

Inside, from developer

Playdead. Every time I play it

there’s always something

new to appreciate.

Adam

Bryant

sTeglbjærg.

freedom.

cide on

game.”

heco-

he

’s

he

eof

RocketLeague,

Cupheaddand

Moonlighter.

056 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE