Xbox game update policies 'totally unacceptable for free-to-play'

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Microsoft's quality control tests on game updates are "totally unacceptable for meaningful free-to-play", the chief executive of Wargaming has said.

Victor Kislyi explained to Polygon that frequent updates are a crucial part of any free-to-play business.

"The good thing is with online games, sometimes if you screw up, you can do frequent updates," Kislyi said.

"But one of the biggest challenges with Microsoft was the frequency of updates because the QA process and certification process take an extremely long time. Totally unacceptable for a meaningful free-to-play. We are working with them to do quicker updates."

Microsoft conventionally tests games and updates thoroughly in order to uphold a level of quality across its Xbox platform. When developers deliver game updates to Microsoft, they must wait as the Xbox quality assurance team tests the content for errors, glitches or unwanted content.

On top of this, developers would usually need to pay as much as $40,000 for the testing and submissions process. However, in June Microsoft scrapped the policy and now allows developers to submit XBLA updates for free.

However, according to Kislyi, the friction of the game update process remains an issue. He said he was unsure whether Microsoft will enact platform-wide policy reform in order to remedy the issue.

"We will see, there is a lot of work on the technically side and on the administrative side which should resolve in the acceptable quality of the product, including updates of the product including speed and rates. So we will see," he said.

Platforms such as iOS and Valve's Steam allow developers to issue updates frequently - in some cases in a matter of days, on some occasions sooner. This has allowed game studios to use the latest player data as a guide for what to add to and remove from the game.

It is believed that around three quarters of iPhone game app business is generated from free-to-play.

Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/420048/xbox-game-update-policies-totally-unacceptable-for-free-to-play/

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"Xbox game update policies 'totally unacceptable for free-to-play'" :: Login/Create an Account :: 42 comments

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brendan64sharkPosted:

It keeps the games good and does not let bad or random updates happen.

JAKE77XPosted:

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xCeeTee Microsoft need to get it together, so do Sony on some levels. Not being funny but PC is actually free to play online with most games, when I buy a game, I want to play it with my friends, so I spend my money on broadband. But on top of this, I have to pay an extra amount each month to play with my friends. The Xbox Live membership I thought was to help game developers out with their updating services, because if you look at a game such as Minecraft where the developers often give the players updates to have more fun on, the Xbox Live should cover those costs, on PC the updates are free. (Granted, you have to run your own servers but that isn't hard to do.) On Xbox however, you have to pay? I'm not surprised that so many different games companies stop supporting so many Xbox 360 games, but this should also encourage them to make the game 100% before they release it, just like Rockstar have with GTA V. Are you listening EA and Activision? You should take some pointers, I understand there will be certain bugs and exploits but try to at least fix the major ones first, even if you do have to delay the game... You think you're gaining money, but you're losing customers for future games you may make and customers make you the money. Rant, over.


Microsoft is one of the biggest companies in the world. They can afford to take a loss because their computer industry is so large. They make the most popular operating system. PC gaming is very fun I understand that. But some people would rather play on a console. From my experience, console gaming is more social and PC gaming is much more serious. That is just from my experience. When you decide between the two both have their pros and cons.


Windows is dropping, while OSX is increasing. Where is your argument now?


^hahaha this M$ will always be bigger than apple sorry


It's funny that you say that, because Apple is the most valuable company in the world. In addition, it made 156.5 billion in revenue in 2012, while Microsoft made 77.5 billion in revenue in 2012.


He didn't argue that they were the most valuable company or that they brought in the most money last year... what he said was "M$ will always be bigger than apple" and they definitely will

aimiami12Posted:

Good decision MS. Games like team fortress, blacklight retribution, planetside, and warframe have suffered from being free. Dumb choice by ps4 to support those games (sarcasm)

AlbericiPosted:

Cokes Oh Microsoft, please stop this ridiculousness.

There stupid so they will keep iton.

CokesPosted:

Oh Microsoft, please stop this ridiculousness.

EstablishPosted:

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xCeeTee Microsoft need to get it together, so do Sony on some levels. Not being funny but PC is actually free to play online with most games, when I buy a game, I want to play it with my friends, so I spend my money on broadband. But on top of this, I have to pay an extra amount each month to play with my friends. The Xbox Live membership I thought was to help game developers out with their updating services, because if you look at a game such as Minecraft where the developers often give the players updates to have more fun on, the Xbox Live should cover those costs, on PC the updates are free. (Granted, you have to run your own servers but that isn't hard to do.) On Xbox however, you have to pay? I'm not surprised that so many different games companies stop supporting so many Xbox 360 games, but this should also encourage them to make the game 100% before they release it, just like Rockstar have with GTA V. Are you listening EA and Activision? You should take some pointers, I understand there will be certain bugs and exploits but try to at least fix the major ones first, even if you do have to delay the game... You think you're gaining money, but you're losing customers for future games you may make and customers make you the money. Rant, over.


Microsoft is one of the biggest companies in the world. They can afford to take a loss because their computer industry is so large. They make the most popular operating system. PC gaming is very fun I understand that. But some people would rather play on a console. From my experience, console gaming is more social and PC gaming is much more serious. That is just from my experience. When you decide between the two both have their pros and cons.


Windows is dropping, while OSX is increasing. Where is your argument now?


^hahaha this M$ will always be bigger than apple sorry


It's funny that you say that, because Apple is the most valuable company in the world. In addition, it made 156.5 billion in revenue in 2012, while Microsoft made 77.5 billion in revenue in 2012.

GossipPosted:

Microsoft need to chill.

OasisPosted:

bigchukka I guess Spartacus legends is a good example of this^^. Microsoft needs to stop with this.


Not really SL is a prime example of how a good game is let down by rushed and poor devs. I'm not saying every game should be perfect on day one but it should at least be able to stand alone until updates are ready. This f2p fad needs to understand this before they try to rely on microtransactions to fund updates. If they were smart they would know that people are more likely to spend real money their games if it's at least playable in all aspects day one.

bigchukkaPosted:

I guess Spartacus legends is a good example of this^^. Microsoft needs to stop with this.

IlIuminatiPosted:

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xCeeTee Microsoft need to get it together, so do Sony on some levels. Not being funny but PC is actually free to play online with most games, when I buy a game, I want to play it with my friends, so I spend my money on broadband. But on top of this, I have to pay an extra amount each month to play with my friends. The Xbox Live membership I thought was to help game developers out with their updating services, because if you look at a game such as Minecraft where the developers often give the players updates to have more fun on, the Xbox Live should cover those costs, on PC the updates are free. (Granted, you have to run your own servers but that isn't hard to do.) On Xbox however, you have to pay? I'm not surprised that so many different games companies stop supporting so many Xbox 360 games, but this should also encourage them to make the game 100% before they release it, just like Rockstar have with GTA V. Are you listening EA and Activision? You should take some pointers, I understand there will be certain bugs and exploits but try to at least fix the major ones first, even if you do have to delay the game... You think you're gaining money, but you're losing customers for future games you may make and customers make you the money. Rant, over.


Microsoft is one of the biggest companies in the world. They can afford to take a loss because their computer industry is so large. They make the most popular operating system. PC gaming is very fun I understand that. But some people would rather play on a console. From my experience, console gaming is more social and PC gaming is much more serious. That is just from my experience. When you decide between the two both have their pros and cons.


Windows is dropping, while OSX is increasing. Where is your argument now?


^hahaha this M$ will always be bigger than apple sorry


Trust me its not dropping. Mac will bever rule PC. OT: That sucks because WoT is pretty fun.


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