Microsoft says it didn’t pull another 180, despite headlines you might have seen today on various gaming news sites. The company says it still plans to add dev-kit functionality to retail Xbox Ones.
Earlier today, reports emerged that Microsoft had cancelled plans to turn Xbox Ones into video game development kits. But somewhere, wires got crossed. Says Microsoft in a statement to Kotaku:
The comments today were inaccurate. We remain committed to ensuring the best possible solution for developers and hobbyists to create games for Xbox One. We will share more details at a later date.
Last year, in the months leading up to the Xbox One’s launch, Microsoft promised that their shiny new console would also function as a video game development kit — in other words, buy an Xbox One, and you can use it to both play and make games. Though Microsoft hasn’t yet implemented this feature, we’ve all been under the impression that it’s still on its way.http://kotaku.com/microsoft-ever…
But earlier today, a report circulated on Digital Spy and other gaming news outlets claiming that Microsoft had reversed course and would no longer be allowing Xbox Ones to function as development kits. “As far as I’m aware there are no plans. I’m not aware of the reason why we didn’t manage to do that,” Microsoft’s Martin Fuller reportedly said.
Those comments were inaccurate, Microsoft says.
Comments
4 responses to “Microsoft Says It Didn’t Reverse Course On Xbox One Dev Kits”
This doesn’t exactly sound like the feature is still coming. More like they will claim something else (Project Spark?) already ensures the best possible solution, or some other cop-out.
Sounds like a backflip to me
Seems a bit odd to me. I mean I’d understand if these were just unfounded rumours that had got out of control, but when it was actually a Microsoft guy that said it in a public forum, it’s hard to imagine how their wires could have got THAT crossed. But I guess it’s not like it’d be the first time that MS’s messaging around XBone has been a mess.
MS may as well. The system will be cracked sooner or later, anyway. Embrace the modding community. It works for Valve and Bethesda. The whole point of unlocking a system is to essentially turn it into a devkit.
When games had to be verified by an internet connection it was absolutely possible to open the console to community developers. However, with the security compromised by their earlier back flip, they now can’t expose the console to hacking, at least not willingly, without alienating third parties.