Microsoft Seeks Feedback From Game Developers To Enhance Xbox Experience

Microsoft Expands Xbox Research Program to Enhance Developer Feedback

Microsoft is actively seeking insights from game developers regarding their experiences with the Xbox platform. The company aims to include a broader community of developers who might either skip Xbox or those who are currently utilizing Microsoft's developer tools. This initiative is part of Microsoft's strategy to enhance its Xbox Research team and ensure a seamless gaming experience for developers.

Inclusive Feedback Gathering

In a bid similar to the Xbox Insider program, the new initiative is now opening its doors to all members within game studios, transcending beyond just technical personnel. Dr. Deborah Hendersen, the principal user researcher for Xbox, emphasized the importance of feedback from various roles in game development, stating:

"Typically, it takes a lot of people to make and ship a game, including marketing, user research, artists, audio, PMs, community managers, and more. We want to hear from everyone who works on games or helps support game studios because if we can make your life easier, it makes gaming better."

What Microsoft Wants to Know

This program is not just about gathering feedback on tools and utilities; it also seeks input from game studios that have decided against launching their games on Xbox. Dr. Hendersen commented, "If you aren’t on Xbox, we’d love to know why. And honestly, if you are using our competitor’s products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from!" This proactive approach could unveil crucial insights into barriers preventing developers from utilizing Xbox's capabilities.

Addressing Recent Challenges

The outreach comes in light of several delays in third-party releases on the Xbox platform. Noteworthy examples include:

• Baldur’s Gate 3—released on Xbox months after its PS5 debut due to technical hiccups with the Xbox Series S.
• Capcom's new fighting game collections—announced to launch on Xbox in 2025 after navigating technical discussions with Microsoft.
• Enotria: The Last Song—faced an "indefinite delay" due to complications within Microsoft's game review process. This situation prompted Xbox chief Phil Spencer to step in for resolution.

The Goal of Xbox Research Expansion

By opening channels for direct feedback from developers, Microsoft aims to identify and address the challenges that discourage some studios from developing games for Xbox. While the company may prefer to handle these matters privately, the outreach suggests a commitment to transparency and improvement in their development ecosystem.

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