Microsoft’s backwards policies are hurting the Xbox One

Since the Xbox One was revealed last May, Microsoft has made some major course corrections. The draconian always-online requirements were scrapped, and the execution of used game dealers was stayed, but a number of serious issues still plague the Xbox One. Worst of them all, Microsoft is demanding launch parity for indie ID@Xbox titles. Because of this short-sighted policy, many notable indie devs are steering clear of the Xbox One completely.

In an interview with our sister site IGN, Curve Studios’ Rob Clarke explains exactly why his company is developing titles for the Wii U and PS4, but has nothing currently slated for the Xbox One. In the ID@Xbox agreement, there sits an insidious requirement dubbed “the parity clause.” This clause requires that these indie games must not have been released previously for other consoles. For small indie developers already working with Sony and Nintendo, this clause effectively means that the Xbox One is persona non grata.


Meanwhile, Sony is knocking it out of the park in terms of developer relations. Fan favorites like Nidhogg, Spelunky, and Escape Goat 2 were among a list of a dozen indie games scheduled for release on the PS4. If Microsoft wants to cater to the indie scene like Sony is, the parity clause has got to go. In the end, it does little more than shorten the list of titles available for the Xbox One.
Unfortunately, the demand for launch parity isn’t the only problem facing the Xbox One. The $500 price tag is an albatross around the Xbox One’s neck, and the cost of the Kinect is largely to blame. To close the PS4 sales gap, Microsoft needs to drop the MSRP, and make the Kinect an optional purchase. $400 is the right price for the Xbox One right now, and anything more than that means giving up even more ground to Sony.

Sony’s Project Morpheus virtual reality headset could arrive as soon as next year

If Microsoft is serious about fixing the Xbox One and its flagging sales, there are also a few smaller tweaks that would help its case. Sony has been quite aggressive with its plans for virtual reality and game streaming, but Redmond has remained relatively quiet on the subject. Getting out in front of these major trends would help mend Microsoft’s damaged image, and portray the Xbox One as a platform with a bright future.

While we’re on the subject, Microsoft also needs to remove the paywall from video apps on its consoles, and release official PC drivers for the Xbox One controller. It’s surprising to see how Microsoft is still dragging its feet on even the most minor of issues, and it’s slowly squeezing the life out of its new console. The time for action is now, but all we’re hearing is deafening silence.