Microsoft has opened up regarding its controversial Xbox One indie parity clause. Based on the company's statements, it appears Microsoft has adopted a softer stance regarding the operations of third-party game developers.
Back in 2014, Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft's Xbox division, said that he intends to make Xbox One gamers feel like first-class citizens through the parity clause. Under this agreement, third-party developers, including independent game studios, are required to launch games for the Xbox One at the same time as other consoles, IGN reported.
In other words, Spencer does want Xbox One owners to feel left out when a new game is released.
However, the clause has put a strain on the operations of some companies. Curve Studios, the developer of the "Stealth, Inc." game, previously said due to time constraints and manpower issues, small companies are having a hard time shipping titles for both the Xbox One console and its competitor, the PlayStation 4.
But in a recent interview with Game Spot, Chris Charla, the manager of the Xbox's indie game department, said that third-party studios should not feel pressured by the parity clause.
"What we've always said is that developers should just come talk to us," he told the gaming news site. "If it's a situation where a developer needs to ship serially on console because they' don't have the resources to simultaneously ship, we totally get that. It's no problem."
Despite taking a lax approach on the matter, Charla emphasized that the abovementioned situation will only apply if the developer originally intended to market games for the Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
If, however, the studio wants to create games for non-Xbox consoles first, then Microsoft will employ stricter measures. This includes not accepting an Xbox port of the same game from the studio in the future.
Charla noted that to get around this, the studio should modify the game or add new content in order to offer something new and unique to Xbox One gamers.
