ID@Xbox: Diverse Developers Achieve Greater Success with $5 Billion in Payouts

As the Game Developers Conference kicks off, we’re here in San Francisco, celebrating the incredible indie developers who continue to wow us with their creativity and passion. Over the last year, the ID@Xbox program has witnessed the launch of over 1,000 games, including popular titles like Balatro, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Phasmophobia, providing fresh experiences for both console and PC enthusiasts.

Since its inception in 2013, ID@Xbox has facilitated more than $5 billion in payments to indie developers worldwide. We’re equally proud of the platform’s ability to help these developers connect with audiences across various screens, maximizing their reach and impact.

Recently, we announced that over 1,000 games now support Xbox Play Anywhere (XPA). This feature is a game-changer: when players purchase an XPA title, they can seamlessly switch between playing on Xbox consoles and Windows 10/11 PCs without any additional cost. Their saves, progress, and achievements travel with them, increasing playtime by 20% as players enjoy their favorites across more devices.

Xbox is pioneering accessibility for indie games, offering more ways than ever to play. Whether it’s through Xbox consoles, gaming PCs, laptops, handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X or Legion Go, smartphones, tablets, or even Samsung TVs and Amazon FireSticks thanks to the Cloud, possibilities abound. Your next go-to ID@Xbox game might just be Another Crab’s Treasure, Neva, or Animal Well.

Moreover, the Developer Acceleration Program (DAP) is doing fantastic work by fostering creativity for over 200 teams worldwide. This program provides valuable resources like information sessions, port and prototype funding, and cost reduction strategies to help bring games to Xbox. Titles like Xbox Excellence Award winner Botany Manor and the newly released Mullet Madjack, which you can find on Xbox Game Pass, are shining examples from DAP.

Our mission with ID@Xbox is to empower developers to achieve extraordinary results with Xbox. The program has continually evolved, offering new ways to get these indie gems to players, whether through Game Pass or Stream Your Own Game. We’re committed to enabling Xbox Play Anywhere, ensuring smooth gameplay across consoles, PCs, and the cloud. Working closely with developers, we strive to leverage every unique feature of each device or screen. The future looks bright with exciting titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Descenders Next, and FBC: Firebreak on the horizon, not to mention the eagerly-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong!

Today, we’re buzzing as we host developers from 10 countries at our annual hands-on preview event for press and creators. Among the spotlighted titles are 11 Xbox Play Anywhere and six Xbox Game Pass games, including Winter Burrow by Pinecreek from Denmark, Detective Dotson by Masala Games from India, and Promise Mascot Academy by Kaizen Works from the UK.

We love working with such a diverse group of developers worldwide, bringing unique and innovative experiences to the table. Whether you’re buying games, streaming them, or diving into a new favorite via Xbox Game Pass, now’s the ideal time to be part of the Xbox community.