Hardcore Gamer: The policy change might not be big news itself, but if it represents a genuine attitude shift in the way Microsoft treats indie developers, then perhaps Microsoft stands a chance at winning back some of those indie devs they lost to Sony. The restriction on self publication still needs to change, but this was a step in the right direction and an abandonment of bad policy (something Microsoft seems to be doing a lot of these days).
Random Nintendo shares Indie World highlights and impressions of Fez, There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, and Aerial_Knight's Never Yield. Plus, The Great Ace Attorney, Microsoft's Switch on a shelf, and more.
With its unique visuals, wonderful soundtrack, and addicting gameplay, FEZ is as much fun to play today as it was nine years ago. Jes from Gaming Respawn reviews.
WTMG's Leo Faria: "In short, Fez is as good now as it has always been. The reason I call this version the best way to experience this indie game is mostly due to the perfect combination of the Switch’s portability and its screen being much larger than the Vita’s. This is easily one of the best indies ever made, and one of the most important games of the past decade. Even though a lot of younger players only know it due to its troubled development cycle and some post-launch controversies, Switch owners should definitely pick this game up. This gem took an eternity to arrive on the system, but it feels right at home on it."
Look at all the exclusive/console exclusive indie titles Sony is bringing to PS4, this is definitely a case of too little too late for MS. Allow self publishing and then we'll talk but until then MS are still far behind Sony in this regard.
The problem is not necessarily that Microsoft made the Xbox One unattractive (which they did, by the way). It's also that the system is largely not indie friendly. No self-publishing and supposedly riddled with the same types of issues indes faced with the Xbox 360.
It's not the console or Microsoft's handling that makes it a headache for indies, it's simply Microsoft's apathy for indie game development that makes them less viable.
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I think most of the indie devs are mad about the whole No Self-Publishing thing. And the apparently bad service MS provides when trying to get their games to platforms.
It could, but it's not likely. Why would they? Xbox improving doesn't mean it's a better situation than Playstation. It just means it's better than it was.
That, in and of itself, is commendable, but it's not an inherent reason to go back to Microsoft.