A next-gen game developer has revealed that it must delay its multiplatform game on PlayStation 4, Vita and Wii U or else it won't be able to release it on Xbox One due to Microsoft's "parity clause."
Microsoft has abandoned its exclusivity requirements for indie game developers who want to self-publish on the console through its new ID@Xbox program. Now all it requires for developers who want their game to be made available on the next-gen console from the company is "day one parity," meaning developers can only release their titles on Xbox One if they haven't already been released on other consoles.
According to Eurogamer, Austrailian developer Witch Beam is encountering issues trying to get its twin stick shooter "Assault Android Cactus" to release across all platforms without losing ground with Microsoft.
"The simple answer is that our plans won't meet the launch day parity requirement of the ID@Xbox programme" said Sanatana Mishra, the game's co-creator. "We started development on our other console versions long before self-publishing was an option for Xbox One, and the only way we could meet that requirement would be to delay the other versions of Assault Android Cactus."
Microsoft has said it is willing to adjust its requirements on a case-by-case basis if exclusivity deals have been made with other console developers prior to the ID@Xbox program's availability. Unfortunately, this won't help Witch Beam. Mishra explained that the company "didn't have an exclusivity agreement in place with another console platform before the ID@Xbox program was announced, which could have allowed us to get a waiver."
The program was just announced last week and so far 32 developers have been accepted to it. Microsoft isn't trying to make things difficult for the indie game developing community and has suggested that Mishra send through an application to get the game released anyway.
"Overall I think the ID program is very developer friendly and light years ahead of what Microsoft were doing even six months ago," he said. "But it's also coming in late with a clause that punishes those who have been developing on other platforms that were readily available for the past year, and that's something they need to fix before it's a viable option."
