Microsoft Says Launch Parity Allows Xbox One Owners To Feel Like First-Class Citizens

Microsoft explained that its launch parity clause for independent game developers exists because the company wants Xbox gamers to feel like first-class citizens, Polygon has learned.

The revelation was made by Phil Spencer, the tech giant's head for its Xbox division, through The Inner Circle podcast.

The launch parity is part of Microsoft's ID@Xbox program which was launched last year, alongside the release of the Xbox One.

As part of the agreement set by the clause, indie developers who are part of the program are required to release games for the Xbox One at the same time as for other platforms and consoles.

According to Spencer, the launch parity clause ensures Xbox One gamers are prioritized when it comes to the release of games, Escapist Magazine reported.

"I look at all the people who buy an Xbox, and they invest their time and their money in Xbox One, and, as millions of people obviously own Xbox Ones, I want them to feel like they're first-class, because they are," he said.

"I want Xbox to feel like it's a first-class citizen when an indie game launches," Spencer added.

Spencer noted that Microsoft drafted the launch parity clause so Xbox gamers will not feel left out.

"I don't want somebody to come in and just think 'I'm going to do a special game on one platform and then I'll get to Xbox whenever I get to it,' because I don't think that's right," he said.

Although the clause seems to accommodate Microsoft's consumers, the launch parity has been criticized by members of the game development industry.

Many of them say the launch parity hinders their capability of developing and releasing indie games.

One of them, Rami Ismail of the development studio Vlambeer, signed a deal with Microsoft's rival Sonyspecifically to avoid the launch parity clause. He explained that this is a way for his company to focus on one platform at a time when developing games, according to Joystiq.

"We'd rather Microsoft allow us not only the freedom to self-publish, but also to publish in whatever order we prefer," Ismail said. "We'll keep pushing for Microsoft to drop the clause, and we'd recommend any other developer to do the same."