Microsoft is stirring up nostalgia with the introduction of Xbox Indie Selects, a new promotional effort to showcase indie games along the same lines of the acclaimed Xbox Live Arcade from the Xbox 360 era. This monthly event will handpick six indie games, not necessarily from the ID@Xbox program, to highlight in the Xbox Store, dashboard, and Microsoft’s social channels. The initiative aims to help these unique indie titles stand out in the competitive gaming market.
The curated collection will be a permanent feature, updated during the last week of each month and enabling gamers to easily discover a diverse range of indie offerings. Microsoft emphasizes that this selection will exclude titles already present in Game Pass to keep the spotlight on games that might otherwise be overlooked. The collection is intended to encompass both popular and hidden gems, including releases from newer game developers worldwide.
The Xbox Indie Selects initiative is a clear nod to the legacy of Xbox Live Arcade, which was known for offering a variety of smaller, affordable games during the Xbox 360 era and highlighted indie successes such as "Fez", "Bastion", and "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2".
What is Xbox Indie Selects and how does it work?Xbox Indie Selects is a program by Microsoft that showcases six indie games each month in the Xbox Store, aiming to promote and bring more visibility to independent game developers' titles. It will feature a rotating collection of indie games curated by the ID@Xbox team, updated on the Xbox dashboard and social channels during the last week of each month.
Background Information: Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) was instrumental in the popularity of indie games on consoles. Launched during the Xbox 360 days, XBLA was a digital marketplace featuring a wide array of indie games which were smaller in scope and price compared to full-retail titles. Indie developers received a significant platform to reach a wide audience, which helped many smaller games achieve critical and commercial success. The introduction of Xbox Indie Selects appears to be a modern iteration of this successful model, aiming to continue the tradition of supporting and highlighting indie game developers on Xbox platforms.
Casey Loh
Casey Loh is a tech-savvy writer who specializes in the intersection of gaming and technology. With a background in computer science, Casey brings a technical lens to her reviews, breaking down the nuts and bolts of game engines, graphics, and AI innovation.
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Comments
Microsoft's Xbox Indie Selects seems like a game-changer, throwing it back to the golden days of Xbox Live Arcade by spotlighting those under-the-radar indie wins that deserve extra playtime. It's cool to see a big player fostering the indie scene, making sure fresh and innovative games get their moment in the Xbox sun without getting overshadowed by the usual blockbuster releases.
Microsoft's Xbox Indie Selects could be a game-changer for indie devs, giving those hidden gem titles the kind of shelf space they deserve, much like the good old Xbox Live Arcade days. It's refreshing to see big names like Xbox remember the little guy, championing the innovative and often boundary-pushing work of indie creators.
Microsoft's Xbox Indie Selects feels like a much-needed revival of the glory days of Xbox Live Arcade, offering a dedicated spotlight to indie developers in an increasingly crowded market. It's a savvy move to help gamers discover these hidden gems outside of Game Pass, feeding that hunger for fresh, creative content that often gets buried under the big-budget titles.