Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
Join Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, in three-dimensional glory, to celebrate the most magical day in any young child’s life – a snow day! A massive blizzard has thrown the town into chaos and, more importantly, canceled school. Play alone or with up to three friends, and battle through the snow-piled town of South Park.
Build a world for wildlife with Planet Zoo: Console Edition. Create unique habitats and vast landscapes, and make meaningful choices to nurture animals as you construct and manage the world’s wildest zoos using intuitive console controls.
Dive into the captivating journey of Justin and his allies as they race against the sinister Garlyle Forces. Unravel the mysteries of a forgotten civilization and immerse yourself in an RPG hailed as a timeless classic, with beautiful HD graphics.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an open world builder with freedom and expression at its core, allowing players to build sprawling towns, spires, and fortresses that become hubs for trade, or rallying grounds for conquests
A spinoff of “Laws of Machine”, you play as a young girl named Sarah, who has to find out what happened in Robotec lab. To figure out what really happened in the lab, you have to reach underground Ascendo lab, where the trail that Sarah found in the memory of a robot DR12 leads
Super Space Club is a colorful endless arcade gunner set to the backdrop of chill, lo-fi music. As a club of skilled misfit pilots, defend the galaxy by taking on galactic forces and completing a series of thrilling missions. In space, everyone can hear you groove.
A shortage of magic crystals and the sudden awakening of ancient robots leads six new friends on an incredible investigation across Terra – a cozy and fantastic world that combines 3D and pixel art.
The Earth is sick and we are the disease. All hope rests on Gaia, a powerful being born from mother nature’s last breath. Use her abilities to alter the environment, escape from dangerous creatures, solve thoughtful puzzles and survive in this dying world.
A fantasy land plagued by nightmares, a common lad trying to rescue his missing mother and an evil forces conspiration to be unveiled. Join Ario in this thrilling adventure where your crossbow and skills will determine the fate of your people.
Experience a thrilling underwater adventure with classic point-and-click gameplay. Explore with 3 characters simultaneously. Ready for a journey to hidden places deep below the waves…?
Explore the eye of master artist Claude Monet and experience a unique biographical adventure! Test your skills and perseverance as you overcome the progressive disease that threatened Monet’s eyesight and solve puzzles to help the painter complete some of his greatest masterpieces!
Forrader Hero is a turn-based tactical roguelike where heroes must battle hordes of monsters, undead creatures, and their sinister overlords. Choose between multiple heroes with different unique skills, chart your path through the danger, and collect items to survive.
HOUSE is a horror adventure game where you play as a young girl exploring a dangerous house that’s doing everything it can to kill you and your family. Race against time to change fate…or fall into darkness yourself.
Re:Touring is a first-person puzzle game in which you’ll explore the abandoned Luoni Energy Competence Center and uncover the facility’s history, navigating through a total of 26 varied levels. Using a retro-style computer, you’ll create color patterns to control elements such as doors, platforms and lasers.
From the moment you set eyes on it, it’s clear that Harold Halibut is a particularly intricate labor of love. A narrative adventure set under the sea, the game places you in the squeaky shoes of its titular protagonist Harold, a lab assistant working aboard an underwater spaceship.
As Harold, you’ll bimble around the confines of the (admittedly, quite large) spaceship, cleverly separated into different districts by the game’s water tube system, which essentially fires humans through little pipes to their destinations. Along the way, you’ll encounter a quirky cast of characters, all busy with their existences but ready to involve Harold in their wacky goings-on, whether it’s looking for a lost pet bird or helping the local shopkeeper win back his wife’s love. The characters spread around Harold Halibut are written brilliantly and bursting with a quintessentially British humor.
The premise of Harold Halibut is equally as fascinating. Without giving too much away, Harold descends from a small colony of explorers that ventured out to find a new planet to inhabit. The ship ended up stranded underwater, and generations of humans have managed to survive and thrive there. As you progress, Harold starts to uncover stories about the history of humanity, the fate of Earth, and the people he’s surrounded by, all while proving to himself that he’s capable of bigger things.
The delightful writing is encased in Harold Halibut‘s most obvious quirk – the game is physically made out of clay, every asset you see in game is handcrafted and then digitally scanned into the game, which is an utterly incredible process. This method makes Harold Halibut feel pleasantly retro, harking back to 90s point-and-click adventure games like The Neverhood, but with a slick, modern feel.
Harold Halibut‘s stunning retro-futuristic aesthetic is also complimented by some incredible audio design; every interaction, conversation or environmental noise comes with a satisfying crunch that makes you feel like you’re really in the room with Harold. The pairing of the sound and handmade visuals together gives Harold Halibut a super unique visceral joy, making even an empty corridor or quiet room feel immersive and interesting.
You’ll visit most of the game’s environments and speak to its cast of characters repeatedly to uncover their stories, but stopping to explore these gorgeous environments never feels like a chore. The game is filled with lovely little puzzles and mini-games too, which adds a pleasing level of interactivity to the walking and talking you’ll do each in-game day. Harold Halibut wants you to pay attention to the little things, its quirky set dressing, subtle, silly jokes, and the thought that has gone into those things is truly rewarding.
I only spent a few hours with Harold, but I’m already enthralled with where the narrative is going, and what weird and wonderful creatures I’m going to encounter on Harold’s journey to resdicover Earth. Harold Halibut is shaping up to be an incredibly special game, and one I can’t wait to play more of.
Harold Halibut is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S and via Game Pass on April 16.
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Delta ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details
OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4041.240318-2000
Available: 4 p.m. PT – March 21, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 22, 2024
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
Capture & Share
Fixes to improve unexpected behavior in the Captures app when storing captures on both the internal Xbox storage and an external drive.
Installation
Fixes to address an unexpected error some users experienced when updating Minecraft (0x87e00021).
System
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.
Networking
We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
Critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online is now available on Xbox Series X|S
Until April 19, players who purchase the full game will receive a variety of fun and useful in-game items including an item to boost experience gained
Previous open beta players and new players alike are invited to enjoy the Free Trial, which includes A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood with no restrictions on play time. Any progress made during the open beta will of course carry over
We’re excited to announce that the full release of the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV Online, has launched today on Xbox Series X|S! Players will have plenty of content to enjoy before its newest expansion, Dawntrail, arrives this summer! The full release also lifts the restrictions present in the open beta.
Even better news is that, until April 19, players who pick up the game for Xbox Series X|S will be able to receive Early Purchase Bonuses to help them on their adventures, and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to receive the Starter Edition through their Perks, giving them complete access to three games in one for free!
Final Fantasy XIV Online has so much to offer in terms of customization and playable content! Learn more about the eight starting classes and their three starting locations that you can take into consideration when creating your very own Warrior of Light.
Creating Your Own Warrior of Light
Creating your character is the first step in your new adventure! Choose the new ‘you’ without worry, as all the race and gender options are equal. And don’t fret on choices at the start too much, as all are possible to change later!
During character creation, you will select a starting class that you can level into iconic Final Fantasy series jobs. There are eight starting classes to choose from, and many more to level and master as you progress. Not just battle-focused classes and jobs, but also classes related to crafting and gathering.
Don’t fret if you want to try more than one, as you can play all the available classes and jobs on a single character. You simply need to change your main hand weapon or tool and voila!
Choose Your Role
There are three roles that the various battle-focused classes and jobs fall under: Tanks, Healers, and DPS (which itself has different types).
Tanks – High in HP and trained in defense, a tank serves as the party’s shield. Skilled at keeping a foe’s attention and bearing the brunt of enemy attacks.
Healers – Healers use restorative arts to mend wounded companions. They can also help to mitigate damage, remove detrimental effects, and even bring fallen allies back to life.
DPSTypes
Melee DPS are close-range attackers. Focused on combos and careful positioning to inflict the maximum amount of damage. Physical ranged DPS attack foes from a distance. They excel at inflicting sustained damage, and also provide support for companions. Magical ranged DPS attack foes using a variety of arcane arts. Movement is restricted by casting times, but they excel at inflicting high burst damage.
Starting Locations
Your character’s starting class will not only determine your initial play style, but also where you begin your journey; in one of three beautiful city-states:
Ul’dah
Limsa Lominsa
Gridania
Gridania – In the eastern reaches of the Aldenard landmass, home to vast, dense woodlands and coursing rivers, lies the forest nation of Gridania. The cityscape is a mosaic of labyrinthine waterways and great wooden structures, so gracefully constructed they seem a part of the surrounding environment.
Limsa Lominsa – On the southern coast of the island of Vylbrand, under the shadow of ancient cliffs worn by the relentless onslaught of the Rhotano Sea, lies the marine city-state of Limsa Lominsa. Said to be blessed by the goddess of navigation, Llymlaen, the city is spread out over countless tiny islands, each connected by sturdy bridges of iron and wood construction, earning her the name the “Navigator’s Veil” from traveling bards who have witnessed the city’s beauty from afar.
Ul’dah – The bustling commercial hub of Ul’dah sits amid the desolate desert landscape of southern Aldenard. The city is organized strategically around the dome-shaped citadel at its center. Its towering fortifications and protective outer walls are visible for malms in all directions, and serve as a stark deterrent to would-be besiegers.
Below are where the eight starting classes begin and how they evolve into iconic Final Fantasy jobs:
Role
Starting Class
Evolved Job
Starting Location
Tank
Gladiator
Paladin
Ul’dah
Tank
Marauder
Warrior
Limsa Lominsa
Healer
Conjurer
White Mage
Gridania
Healer/DPS
Arcanist
Scholar (Healer) or Summoner (DPS)
Limsa Lominsa
DPS
Pugilist
Monk
Ul’dah
DPS
Lancer
Dragoon
Gridania
DPS
Archer
Bard
Gridania
DPS
Thaumaturge
Black Mage
Ul’dah
Of course, your adventures will extend far beyond these starting city-states and early class choices. You’ll be able to venture into a wide variety of new locations and learn a multitude of battle-focused jobs, as well as more easygoing crafting and gathering classes throughout your time in Eorzea.
Players are welcome to experience all that Final Fantasy XIV has to offer on the Xbox Series X|S today!
Dip your toes in with the Starter Edition which includes A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood—the equivalent of three full Final Fantasy titles! Then, once you’re ready, you can purchase the Endwalker expansion which also includes Shadowbringers, further expanding the breadth of content available! Or dive headfirst into the full offering with the Complete Edition, which includes the three Starter Edition titles and the two most recent expansions: Shadowbringers and Endwalker.
For players who are looking for even more information on how to start the game, check out our Starter Guide series. The seven-part video series offers early tips and tricks for new players to get the most out of their adventures in Eorzea. The series follows the journey of new player Kaz and his mentor Mayra, who guides him through his first steps in FFXIV. You can check out the whole series in a playlist here!
Previous open beta players and new players alike are invited to enjoy the Free Trial, which includes A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood with no restrictions on play time and progress carrying over from the open beta. Note that there are in-game restrictions associated with the Free Trial, but these can be lifted by upgrading to the full game.
Please note that by registering the Starter Edition or Complete Edition to your account, will no longer be eligible for the Free Trial and a paid subscription will be required to play. (New accounts starting with the Starter Edition or the Complete Edition will receive a 30-day free play period. The 30-day free play period can be applied once to each platform on a single service account, so cross platform users can also enjoy this benefit.) Additionally, a subscription to both FFXIV and Xbox Game Pass (Core or Ultimate) is required to play.
We look forward to welcoming you to Eorzea!
FINAL FANTASY XIV Online – Complete Collector’s Edition – Early Purchase Bonus
The Complete Collector’s Edition is perfect for new players as it includes the base game and all expansions through Endwalker – all in one comprehensive package!
Purchase by 04-20-2024 (10:00 UTC) to receive the following bonus items!
• Palom Minion
• Menphina’s Earring (including 30% EXP bonus up to level 80)
These items will be delivered in-game via the Moogle Delivery Service. Minions are vanity pets that do not have any effect on a player’s attributes. The Earring grants a 30% increase in EXP gained by defeating enemies when worn, equippable only by Disciples of War or Magic classes and jobs.
Service accounts that already claimed pre-order bonus items for FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker are not eligible for the Early Purchase Bonus items.
This edition also includes all Collector’s Edition in-game bonus items:
-Endwalker
• Arion Mount
• Wind-up Porom Minion
• Death Scythe
-Shadowbringers
• Grani Mount
• Wind-up Fran Minion
• Revolver Gunbreaker Weapon
-Stormblood
• Syldra Mount
• Wind-up Bartz Minion
• Chicken Knife Red Mage Weapon
-Heavensward
• Flying Griffin Mount
• Dark Knight Cecil-themed Baron Helm
• Wind-up Kain
• Phial of Fantasia, an item that grants you a single opportunity to edit your character’s appearance.
-A Realm Reborn
• Fat Chocobo Mount
• Coeurl Mount
• Wind-up Moogle Minion
• Baby Behemoth Minion
• Behemoth Barding
• Helm of Light
This Edition also includes a 30-day free play period*
IMPORTANT:
• *The 30-day free play period included with purchase can only be applied once to each platform on a single service account.
•All editions of the game require user registration. All editions of the game other than the Free Trial require an active paid subscription to play.
•Age restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the User Agreement (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_agreement) and Square Enix Account Terms of Use (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_terms) for the terms and conditions of registration and service. Please visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV website at https://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/ for additional information.
• An active Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan is required to play this product.
Hey Xbox Insiders! We are releasing a new Xbox App and Game Bar app for Windows builds to Xbox Insiders who are enrolled in the PC Gaming Insiders preview! Thank you all for being Xbox Insiders. Continue read to learn about fixes and known issues. Make sure that you update the Xbox app, Gaming Services and Game Bar to ensure you get all of the fixes!
Versions of PC Gaming prerelease products:
Xbox App version: 2403.1001.2.0
Released: 4:00 p.m. PT – Mar 19th 2024
Game Bar version: 7.124.3181.0
Released: 4:00 p.m. PT – Mar 19th 2024
Xbox App Bug Fixes:
Various performance and stability fixes.
How to Get Xbox Insider Support
Don’t forget! If you encounter any issues, you can leave feedback by navigating to the feedback option on your profile menu.
You can also provide feedback, as well as interact with the community, on the Xbox Insiders Subreddit. Please be as specific as possible when providing feedback.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can!
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information!
Thank you to everyone who participates in the Xbox Insider Program! Your feedback helps us continue to build a great gaming experience in the Xbox app on PC.
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Delta ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details
OS Version: XB_FLT_2404ZN25398.4026.240314-2000
Available: 4 p.m. PT – March 19, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 20, 2024
New Features and Experiences
We have exciting news! Delta users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.
Capture & Share
Users will now see a toast notification after uploading a new screenshot or game clip to OneDrive if they’re running low on space.
Discord Voice – Soundboard Audio
Xbox players who have joined Discord Voice will now be able to hear soundboard audio from others in the channel or call. A mute button for soundboard audio can be found in the Discord Voice options in the Guide. At this time, you cannot trigger soundboard audio from the console.
Microsoft Store – Improved Search
Today, a new search experience enhanced by AI is available to a random selection of players. This experience provides improved results and greater flexibility, allowing you to search for any feature or criteria you can imagine, including concepts like “cozy games” or “arcade racers.” To get started, launch the Microsoft Store, and try searching for something new!
We want your feedback on this new experience! If you notice anything unexpected or see results that are not quite what you were looking for, please let us know by filing feedback with Report a Problem.
Note: In the new experience, you’ll see a “New” tip just below the search bar.
Settings – Access Restrictions
We have added two new access restrictions options for installing and uninstalling games and apps. To find them, navigate to Settings > System > Access restrictions.
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
Network Transfer
Fixes to address an unexpected error that could occur when initiating a network transfer if the content already exists.
Parties
Fixes to address an issue where no members would be listed when attempting to invite club members to a party.
System
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.
Networking
We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
How Xbox Continues to Help Independent Developers Reach More Players
Chris “Do a Kickflip” Charla
Greetings from GDC 2024 – every year we use this show as a way to meet tons of developers and as a convenient check in to talk about the goings on at ID@Xbox.
2024 got off to a fast start with players this year — Xbox had its biggest month ever on console this past January, measured by play time (including ID@Xbox program member Pocket Pair, whose Xbox Game Preview title, Palworld, has more than 10,000,000 players on Xbox so far!).
With more than 3500 titles from independent developers in more than 100 countries in active development for Xbox and Windows via the ID@Xbox program, we’re always working to help independent developers reach more players, and for players to find the best new games. Our new open pitch portal and our Indie Selects program are two ways in which we‘ve unlocked new opportunities for creators and players alike.
Last year, we mentioned that we’d be launching an open pitch portal for members of the ID@Xbox program to pitch their games for deal consideration for Game Pass and our Developer Acceleration Program. I’m happy to say that since the portal launched in August, we’ve had hundreds of studios use the portal to submit games for consideration.
While we don’t publicly talk about our deals before they’re announced, we can say that opening up this process more transparently and publicly has been a huge step forward, to ensure the curators at Xbox across Game Pass and other programs get access to the broadest variety of games to consider, so we can keep bringing players the best selection of games on Earth. While we’re incredibly excited to meet old and new friends from development studios this week at the Game Developer’s Conference, travelling to San Francisco (or anywhere) to meet Xbox staff in person shouldn’t be a pre-requisite to get a game in consideration for a deal — and I am happy to say that it no longer is.
Second, this January, after an enormous amount of work from our amazing marketing and store teams, we launched the Indie Selects section of the Xbox Store! This section of the store harkens back to the olden days of Xbox Live Arcade with hand-curated collections of great titles from independent developers available on Xbox. In February, we began awarding six titles a month with an Indie Selects designation / award as well.
Although I’m not personally the biggest fan of awards – we all have our own criteria for what makes a great game – so I’m always a little uncomfortable trying to pick winners in any category, especially where there are so many great games out there. However, I also live and breathe games. One of our discovery challenges is helping folks who love games, but don’t immerse themselves in gaming news on a daily (or hourly!) basis. For them, the Indie Selects designation is a great way to help them quickly find games that are endorsed by a group of curators and staff at Xbox who vote on them each month. (I can also share that Phil Spencer volunteered to serve on the voting committee!) These are all awesome games, but of course, there are a great many awesome games that won’t have the Indie Selects designation as well.That includes most games that launch with Xbox Game Pass. The marketing efforts we’ve started with the Indie Selects program are predominantly for games that are not in Game Pass.
Game Pass already provides an amazing discovery mechanism (if you see a game you think you might like… download it!), and our Indie Selects efforts are there to ensure that folks see the amazing breadth and depth of the whole catalog on Xbox, not just Game Pass.
And that depth and breadth just keeps getting bigger. We now have “business hours” coverage for developers 24/7 around the world, and the team’s work is paying off, with more than 100 titles in development for Xbox consoles via the ID@Xbox Program from Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. Of course, we have a lot of work to do to grow and help the developer base in these areas, and from other developers who are under-represented on Xbox wherever they are geographically. We want Xbox to be a place where everyone feels comfortable playing and developing.
Of course that doesn’t mean every game will be for every person, and that’s where some of our most challenging, and exciting work will be in the months and years to come – enhancing discovery so that we can help players find their next favorite games, and so we can help developers of great games find their audience wherever they live around the globe. Games remain a hit driven business, but we believe in a future where every game has a reasonable shot in front of its intended audience to make a critical and commercial impact. This is crucial to our dual vision to bring players the widest and deepest array of games to play, and to enable developers to have a sustainable future creating and entertaining us for years to come. And from what we’ve seen coming, we’re incredibly optimistic about the future of games and developers on Xbox.
