At this week’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026, Microsoft’s Guy Richards, the director of ID@Xbox, discussed the future of Xbox in an interview. He explained why developers, especially from smaller studios, should consider working with Xbox instead of competing platforms like Steam.
Richards noted that Xbox plans to create a system where developers can “build once and ship everywhere.” This approach aims to make it simpler for developers to release their games on Xbox, which could lead to a faster influx of new titles. He highlighted that by reaching multiple platforms, developers can increase their sales opportunities.
Several successful titles were mentioned, including “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” “Ready Or Not,” and “Hollow Knight: Silksong.” Richards pointed out that many smaller developers have also profited significantly, sometimes earning between $100,000 to $200,000 from their games. He stated that the ID@Xbox team is focused on enhancing the visibility of these smaller titles to help them succeed.
This initiative gains significance as many indie games on Steam, such as “PEAK” and “Super Battle Golf,” often take years to arrive on Xbox, or may never be ported at all. The forthcoming Project Helix Xbox console is anticipated to support PC games, which could streamline the process of transferring titles from Steam to the Xbox Store.
Looking ahead, this improved accessibility could lead to a vibrant selection of indie games on Xbox in the near future.
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