No Indie Titles on Xbox One Until 2014

[Josh Engen]

No Indie Titles on Xbox One Until 2014

Xbox One owners will have to wait until 2014 to check out the console's indie lineup.

The next-gen battle between Microsoft and Sony is still heating up, but Sony has taken a hefty lead in at least one area: indie games. Today, Microsoft's corporate vice president, Phil Harrison, told Games Industry International [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-09-23-xbox-one-our-long-term-vision-hasnt-changed-at-all] that he doesn't expect any indie titles to show up on the Xbox One until early 2014.

"I don't think we're going to see things at launch," Harrison said. "I don't think it's realistic to see a developer get the program and build a game and get it into the market on November 22. It's reasonable to expect in early 2014 we'll start seeing the first games come through."

This summer, Microsoft unveiled its Independent Developers @ Xbox [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/126298-Microsoft-Confirms-Self-Publishing-on-Xbox-One] program, which allows small studios and individuals to publish their own titles. According to Harrison, the company has had "an avalanche of interest from all corners of the globe," but there just isn't enough time to take care of the logistics and allow developers to work their magic.

"Now we're working through applications and creating that dialogue with developers," he explained. "As we said at the time, we have phase one where we give away development kits and loan them to the teams that inevitably will have to pass some kind of a qualification to justify a limited number of dev kits being given to them."

Only a handful of indie titles will be heading to the Playstation 4 before the end of the year. However, there are reportedly over 180 games being developed for Sony's next-gen console, and the majority of those are independent.

But these statistics don't worry Phil Harrison. "[The Xbox One] lineup is very, very strong. And Titanfall is turning into the huge megahit that we expected it to be."

Source: GamesIndustry International [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-09-23-xbox-one-our-long-term-vision-hasnt-changed-at-all]

Permalink

 

[Seracen]

I couldn't care LESS about Titanfall...really.

It's reasonable that we wouldn't get indies the first few months of release, with dev kit releases and all. No biggie there, so long as it is rectified Q1 2014.

But M$ is pimping out Titanfall like it's the Second Coming. While it'll likely be fun, I need engaging, immersive storylines in my games, and ones that aren't dependent on the interactions of other players.

Multiplayer is always icing on the cake for me, rarely the main course (I say RARELY b/c I play SWTOR on occasion)

 

[Dark Knifer]

Titanfall isn't a fucking indie game.


Also, it seems every time something comes up with the Xbone, one of their reactions is "yea, but Titanfall looks pretty awesome, doesn't it?"

I hope titanfall bombs just because of those reactions, Its just a multiplayer mech combat game, we got some of those on pc already though, and pc is getting this as well.

It's only being hyped cause the guys from call of duty are making it.

 

[Arawn]

Games are pretty hit an miss. I know we've seen some real gems from the Indie scene, but for every gem there has been a turd. They're cheap and easy, but sometimes engaging. Then there's games you scratch your head after playing not sure if it was a game or just a tech demo. Indie games are wealth of great ideas, but sometimes poor execution. Not having said games might hurt them as both systems have spotty launch titles. Some digital love would be nice. I can't say it's bad, but at least they are trying to get SOME. Really can't begrudge them for that. But how they treat said developers to appeal to future game releases is another story altogether.

 

[Vie]

*Headdesk*

Microsoft, just shut up now. Please.

Every time you open your mouths you make things worse... ..except when you announced Baulmer was leaving, that was a good move.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Why is everyone hyping up Titanfall as the big Xbox One exclusive? Its on PC too isn't it?

It is, but as an EA game it'll also be on Origin, which is proving to be an unerringly reliable sales killer for everything that isn't Battlefield or Mass Effect. It'll have to be something truly special and no doubt Microsoft will dream up some way to make it most appealing on Xbone.

 

[Adultism]

Can we just Boycott the Xbone? I mean at this point I doubt anyone is looking forward to it.

 

[llamastorm.games]

There is only around 6-7 weeks of 2013 left by the time the X1 releases...
If they said that there would be no indie titles until this time 2014 that would be more like news.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Just checked, its also for the 360.

Why would people buy a whole new console for a game that is coming out on system that anyone interested in the Xbone is gonna have?

The 360 version will likely be cut down the same way Battlefield is to fit into that 512MB RAM limit. Whether it's as extreme a hatchet job as the 360 version of BF3 remains to be seen, if it is I can't see Titanfall being that popular on 360.

Microsoft will work hard to make it look best on Xbone, it's in their interest to have people picking up that version, doubly so if they pull a stunt like they did with the Xbox and cut the 360 out of Live after a couple of years.

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

Can we just Boycott the Xbone? I mean at this point I doubt anyone is looking forward to it.

I'm looking forward to it. Just to be contrary.

 

[Berny Marcus]

Can we just Boycott the Xbone? I mean at this point I doubt anyone is looking forward to it.

I'm looking forward to it. Just to be contrary.

It's called buying a PS4 instead XP

OT: So it's just a few months of waiting for the Indie titles, I'm sure waiting an extra amount of time wont harm anyone to those who look forward to playing Indies on the Xbox One. Hell the gaming library for both will be small going into next year. Which is why I'l wait before buying a PS4 for extra games.

 

[Something Amyss]

Is anyone really buying either console for indie titles, though?

Why is everyone hyping up Titanfall as the big Xbox One exclusive? Its on PC too isn't it?

This has been fairly common since there's been an Xbox brand.

 

[Racecarlock]

Microsoft, you really need to see someone about this strange addiction to driving off cliffs you seem to have developed lately.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Ok, I'm sure he's talking BS.

At this point I've seen more Kickstarters mentioning the OUYA for fucks sake than the Xbone, and most of the time its 'we'll look into it' rather than an actual answer or stretch goal.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Personally I'm hoping the Xbone dies before them and all the indie devs flee to greener pastures. PSN, Steam and other downloads, hell, even the Nintendo eShop! Just whatever doesn't have the Xbone logo on it.

 

[ReleGamer]

I am still quite apprehensive when it come to the Xbox One...It seems everything they say is altered within a few weeks. I'l believe the console is indie friendly once there is a substantial library available. And remember...TitanFall is only exclusive when looking at consoles. I'l be buying it on PC.

 

[Baldr]

There is only around 6-7 weeks of 2013 left by the time the X1 releases...
If they said that there would be no indie titles until this time 2014 that would be more like news.

Actually only 5.5 weeks. There not going to be many for Sony either, if any, I haven't seen the lineup. I heard Minecraft Xbox One may launch before 2014, so this article may be untrue.

 

[Callate]

I'd like to see the ex-Infinity Ward guys take off with a flying start, just because I feel that's the narrative they deserve after the shakedown they endured with Activision. But it's increasingly looking like they may have put their eggs in the wrong basket with Microsoft. Being the creators of effectively the headliner title for a console isn't necessarily the easiest position for a new developer to arrive on the scene, even if that developer is made up of industry veterans.

As far as the rest of it, it's all what we've come to expect from Microsoft: a bunch of meaningless doublespeak that can't be pinned down to having any real meaning. No specifics, no names, no real timelines, just a bunch of hyperbolic expressions of how great everything is going to be.

 

[Zeckt]

There is only around 6-7 weeks of 2013 left by the time the X1 releases...
If they said that there would be no indie titles until this time 2014 that would be more like news.

Actually only 5.5 weeks. There not going to be many for Sony either, if any, I haven't seen the lineup. I heard Minecraft Xbox One may launch before 2014, so this article may be untrue.

Yeah, if minecraft was still considered indie.

 

[Phishfood]

*Headdesk*

Microsoft, just shut up now. Please.

Every time you open your mouths you make things worse... ..except when you announced Baulmer was leaving, that was a good move.

Pretty much what I'm thinking. It's not just the really strange decisions MS are making, it's their comments after that are REALLY baffling me. New x-box can't be used vertically? "It's fine, only 1/5 of our customer base ever wanted that, we can ignore them!". You don't want our always online dildo up your ass? "Then fine, we are taking ALL THESE FEATURES and GOING HOME!"

Sony got hacked, then they fucked up handling it. Next thing they did was apologise, not have a strop that the universe didn't conform to the way they imagined it would while drunk.