Microsoft has confirmed the Xbox One will permit independent developers to self-publish.
Also, Xbox One consoles sold in retail stores will be doubled as development kits; in other words, retail-purchased Xbox One consoles can be used to develop and test games.
“Our vision is that every person can be a creator. That every Xbox One can be sued for development. That every game and experience can take advantage of all the features of Xbox One and Xbox LIVE,” Microsoft’s Vice-President of Xbox Marc Whitten told Engadget in Wednesday’s interview. “This means self-publishing. This means Kinect, the cloud, achievements. This means great discoverability on Xbox LIVE. We’ll have more details on the program and the timeline at Gamescom in August.”
Prior to Microsoft’s revision, the company outlined in their initial Xbox One policies indie developers needed to work alongside third-party publishers or acquire a Microsoft publishing contract. Interestingly enough, Microsoft’s decision to overturn its stance on indie self-publishing was not the only revised policy.