While the current Xbox generation started with renewed momentum after the troubled Xbox One cycle, the results have fallen short, leading to more uncertainty than confidence regarding the development and availability of games on Xbox Series X|S. The fact that several titles have bypassed Microsoft's consoles in recent years has raised alarms within the company, prompting them to seek feedback to improve their platform and processes.
Microsoft Expands Xbox Research Program to Developers and Publishers
In a statement published on the official Microsoft website, the company announced that its Xbox Research program will not be limited to players but will also expand to developers and publishers to learn more about their experience with the consoles, gaming ecosystem, and development and publishing processes. Xbox states: "The goal is to listen to developer partners about the Xbox ecosystem and partner with product teams to provide insights and data that can help improve future tools and services. By interacting directly with game creators, Xbox aims to gather data that will help address pain points and improve the experience for partners across the full range of disciplines involved in bringing games to market."
Xbox Wants to Know Why More Developers and Publishers Prefer Sony's PS5
In recent weeks, some indie and AA studios have complained about the lack of attention they’ve received from Microsoft when launching their games on Xbox, leading to delays and even threats of canceling Xbox versions.
Considering this, Dr. Deborah Hendersen, Xbox's lead user researcher, mentions: "We want to hear from everyone working in games or supporting studios because if we can make their lives easier and make their games better, that's a win. We create a lot of tools, not just GDK, and it’s important that we listen to creatives and artists using PIX. If you're making games, we want to hear from you. If you're not on Xbox, we'd love to know why, and honestly, if you're using our competitors' products, we probably have a great perspective to learn from."
Recently, renowned Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier revealed that the situation within Xbox is "a mess," stating that the brand lacks a clear direction, with strategies shifting yearly, and what seems certain today could change in a matter of months.
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