UPDATE #2: After the dust has settled on Microsoft's latest policy change, Retro City Rampage developer Brian Provinciano has offered hints that all may not be quite as good as it seems.
"This is yet another example of them changing policy, but it sounding better than it is when the whole story is revealed," Provinciano told Engadget. "Make no mistake; while this is a great thing, it's again not the equivalent to what other platforms offer."
"On PS4, for example, developers can tap right into the system; use every bit of RAM and all of its power. Indies have access to everything that the AAA studios do, from platform support to development and release. The indication on Xbox One is that it's essentially XBLIG 2.0. Instead of XNA, it's Windows 8. Windows 8, which is already struggling to gain developer interest, will gain a boost from developers wishing to target the console. However, it won't be as full-fledged as published games on the system."
Microsoft exec Marc Whitten yesterday hyped up the importance of self-published Xbox One games by boasting of their access to various system features, including Kinect (not that surprising since it's an unremovable part of Xbox One), the cloud, and achievements.
The inclusion of achievements is interesting as Microsoft has traditionally kept a fairly strict structure to their distribution - Xbox Live Indie Games lacked them entirely. Their inclusion in self-published Xbox One titles suggests that Microsoft will retain a decent amount of control over their curation and certification.
By asking developers to create Windows 8 compatible versions - for Xbox One, tablets and PCs - the company would expand its current Windows 8 self-publishing structure while bolstering its threadbare Windows Store line-up.
Despite the changes Provinciano explained he was still uninterested in developing for Xbox One, due to his experiences while getting Retro City Rampage released on Xbox 360.
"After my experience working with them to release on Xbox 360, I have no interest in even buying an Xbox One, let alone developing for it. The policy changes are great, but they don't undo the experience I had. I'm not ready to forget what I went through. Working with Microsoft was the unhappiest point of my career. Policies are one thing, but developer relations are another.
"It's important to me that consumers don't see things as black and white. There are still strings attached to this policy change."
We'll hear the full details of Microsoft's plans at Gamescom next month.
