Report: Microsoft drops $40,000 Xbox 360 game patch fee

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Microsoft has reportedly dropped the substantial fee it charges for re-certification of Xbox 360 games following title updates, according to Eurogamer's "multiple development sources". The quiet change to policy occurred earlier this year, and significantly benefits indie developers who were often stung by the fee, reported to be around $40,000 per patch.

The new process for Xbox 360 game certification involves Microsoft charging an initial fee to certify the game, followed by free re-certification for all future title updates. Previously Microsoft granted just one free title update per game, with all other patches including the fee; a process designed to encourage developers to polish their games to the best of their ability before submitting them for review.

However, the new rules allegedly include something along the lines of a 'fair use policy', whereby Microsoft will still charge developers if they're deemed to be making an excessive amount of patch submissions. At this stage it's unclear if the same policy of free game title update certification will carry over to the Xbox One, but it's at least a step in the right direction for supporting independent developers.

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Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/report-microsoft-drops-40000-xbox-360-game-patch-fee

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"Report: Microsoft drops $40,000 Xbox 360 game patch fee" :: Login/Create an Account :: 119 comments

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EulerPosted:

ShadowBoltDashie
I-DA-KING I hope this makes game devolopers will make more stuff for there games then instead of charging for every little thing for there games


Well DLC will always be charged for. Avatar items, themes and gamerpics will still more and likely be charged for as well.


That is true, but just general bug fixes etc they are never going to make the money back on!

EulerPosted:

BDB
Kick Well the guy below me is correct what is 40k to microsoft, what is 40k to the developers! Thats a lot of money so our games will see a huge drop in bug fixes and hacks!


Probably, that would be a great thing!


To new market developers though, a $40,000 patch is a hell of a lot of money! They would have to fix all the bugs and hacks they possibly could in just the one patch!

EulerPosted:

ShadowBoltDashie
imgur
RaheemSterling_31 What's $40,000 to Microsoft?


Not very much, but to devs its a decent amount.


If it's like Activision, Dice or EA, it won't be too much of a hassle but the arcade games might be a little bit more than expected.


Just a little bit more! I had no idea it would cost this much! But you are right in that a big developer would not be too bothered about a $40,000 fee.

EulerPosted:

$40,000? To more underground game developers that is a ridiculous amount of money! What do they even need that much for a patch for anyway?

CokesPosted:

Not much for Microsoft lol

TaigaAisakaPosted:

imgur
RaheemSterling_31 What's $40,000 to Microsoft?


Not very much, but to devs its a decent amount.


If it's like Activision, Dice or EA, it won't be too much of a hassle but the arcade games might be a little bit more than expected.

TaigaAisakaPosted:

BDB $40,000 is like 0,1% of Microsoft's budget, this is nothing.


$40,000 shouldn't even compare in Microsoft's budget .-.

PlusnetPosted:

RaheemSterling_31 What's $40,000 to Microsoft?


Pocket change to them.

neboPosted:

imgur
RaheemSterling_31 What's $40,000 to Microsoft?


Not very much, but to devs its a decent amount.


especially for arcade games like Trials, wish there were more updates to the game.

imgurPosted:

RaheemSterling_31 What's $40,000 to Microsoft?


Not very much, but to devs its a decent amount.


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