Microsoft confirms self-publishing on Xbox One

And just like that, Microsoft pulled another 180 on one of its unfavorable policies. Following today's rumor, the company confirmed the Xbox One will indeed support self-publishing for independent developers. Furthermore, retail systems will also double as development kits, meaning any Xbox One can be used for game development and testing purposes.

"Our vision is that every person can be a creator. That every Xbox One can be used for development," Xbox corporate VP Marc Whitten told Engadget. "That every game and experience can take advantage of all of the features of Xbox One and Xbox LIVE. 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 this change, Microsoft's Xbox One policies required developers to have third-party publishers or a deal with Microsoft Studios. In contrast, Sony has been supportive of indie developers and self-publishing on the PlayStation 4 from the get-go.

Does this reversal change your opinion of the Xbox One?

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