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.

Posted:
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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neboPosted:

That's great, hopefully more updates for indie games and arcade games are issued then.

bdgrPosted:

we all love it.

kal45Posted:

Gabardine I never understood why MS would charge companies to patch their games, surely MS want's the games available on XBL to be bug free. Why charge to fix issues?


To get more $$$$

GeorgasmPosted:

I never understood why MS would charge companies to patch their games, surely MS want's the games available on XBL to be bug free. Why charge to fix issues?

iBulletPosted:

Means all of the glitches and mods/hacks will be patched faster.

OrigamoPosted:

So hopefully we will be getting lots more patches and updates.

TrillologyPosted:

Submit
aimiami12
Ruck_Fules
BDB 40,000$ wow, for a single patch -.-


Sure it's alot, but it's nothing compared to how much income games like COD get etc.


Even for COD thats way to expensive. Think of all the smaller publisher, thats way to much. Microsoft should encourage companies to fix their games... making them pay this much is making them not patch their games.


Making them pay this is making them spend time to create complete and polished games, sad they changed this policy.


I agree and i understand what he is saying. If they know they have to pay then they have to spend every minute insuring the game won't need a patch! Thus making the game better at launch.

TrillologyPosted:

-Tacodevil- What's Microsoft up to lately? Usually they're strict and hard headed..


Sony with the PS4 is making them (in a way) do this. They realized they are losing fans so they are doing everything they can this time around to get them back . Just like the other article said: it wasn't us that made them take away the DRM it was the pressure from Sony about losing fans due to the DRM. I kinda figured it wasn't us because they usually do not listen to us..

SubmitPosted:

aimiami12
Ruck_Fules
BDB 40,000$ wow, for a single patch -.-


Sure it's alot, but it's nothing compared to how much income games like COD get etc.


Even for COD thats way to expensive. Think of all the smaller publisher, thats way to much. Microsoft should encourage companies to fix their games... making them pay this much is making them not patch their games.


Making them pay this is making them spend time to create complete and polished games, sad they changed this policy.

aimiami12Posted:

Ruck_Fules
BDB 40,000$ wow, for a single patch -.-


Sure it's alot, but it's nothing compared to how much income games like COD get etc.


Even for COD thats way to expensive. Think of all the smaller publisher, thats way to much. Microsoft should encourage companies to fix their games... making them pay this much is making them not patch their games.


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