Warframe passed up Xbox One on account of Microsoft’s inflexibility towards indie studios. MS’s policy reversal opens possibilities.
There’s no question surrounding the resistance towards Microsoft’s Xbox One console back when it was first announced. Policy decisions not only caused back lash from consumers, but also from developers. Things were particularly difficult for indie studios as one Microsoft policy required independent developers to provide their own publisher in order to sell IPs on the Xbox Marketplace. A frustrating hurdle for any studio looking to self publish. Digital Extremes was no exception to this, which is exactly why Warframe skipped Microsoft’s console altogether, the studio tells us.
“There were a number of constraints that came with [the Xbox One],” explained Associate Producer on Warframe for PS4, Pat Kudirka. “With Warframe being a self-published title by Digital Extremes, it seemed as if these constraints wouldn't allow us to develop and publish on the Xbox One.”
However, back in July Microsoft reversed this particular policy, along with several others in June before that, making the new console more “indie friendly”.
“Microsoft has since changed their stance over the past few months making the Xbox One more indie friendly,” Kudirka notes. “The door is always open to expand Warframe into other markets.”
With the Xbox One release going sour DE would then turn towards Sony, right? But Kudirka says the PS4 creators were on their doorstep before Digital Extremes could even attempt a pitch.
“As for the decision to work with Sony, they actually approached us to put Warframe on the PS4 after seeing its success on the PC,” Kudirka recalls. “Their stance on supporting free-to-play titles, independent publishing, and the ability to update the title on a weekly basis seemed like a perfect fit for Warframe.”
The result? Warframe is now on PS4. “We're extremely excited to be a launch title on the PS4 and we think fans will appreciate having an amazing free-to-play title on day 1. Ninjas play free.”
Warframe is currently in an open beta on PC and will release alongside PS4 on Nov. 15 of this year.
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