Microsoft's 'Xbox Community Content' platform could bring more mods to Xbox One games

Microsoft has been rumored to be looking more than securely into modernistic support for Xbox One for quite a while, thanks to task listings we wrote about in the past. Now, thanks to some internal documents, we have a amend idea of how Microsoft plans to plough Xbox One into a corking platform for mods and for developers who want to allow mods in their games.

For those who don't know, mods are unremarkably community-created maps, items, skins, and other in-game features that can be used to "modify" an existing game, primarily on Windows PC.

Equally of this writing, developers have to ready their own systems and services to bring mods to Xbox One. Halo five Forge, Fallout iv, and Skyrim Special Edition are a few prominent games that have their own modding systems, built by their corresponding studios. Devs, of course, volition continue to be able to do that if they so choose, but Microsoft is setting up a system that would not only provide much of the infrastructure required to ready these features simply also surface mods straight in a new section in the Xbox Store, like to the Steam Workshop, to make them easier to discover.

Xbox Community Content

Expected to get in "later this summer," according to the presentation, the new Xbox Customs Content platform is a new infrastructure built for developers to aid support user-generated content (UGC), or mods, within their games. Microsoft noted Minecraft's Partner Programme and customs marketplace as an instance of how mods have improved the game.

If these plans go ahead, developers will be able to define what institute mods in their games, as well as deciding monetization (or lack thereof). A programmer might determine to only allow skins or texture updates but could also include gameplay-modifying features such as weapons, maps, or even full quests or campaigns.

There will be a space reserved on Xbox consoles for games that employ Xbox Community Content, for downloading mods. Developers will also be able to assign metadata to mods to help with discovery via the Microsoft Store, Xbox Clubs, and social feeds.

These documents are from before in the twelvemonth and note that a developer beta for the features would be hitting Xbox dev kits in March, with approved mod libraries going live subsequently this summer. Hereafter iterations of the service beyond this summertime include total Xbox trounce integration, showcasing mods directly in a game'due south shop page, recommendations, commerce back up for mod creators, ratings, and modern reviews, and website integration for viewing mods in a browser.

It will be up to developers to make up one's mind how to leverage these services, including things like content moderation, and whether or not they will allow paid mods. Microsoft is as well placing stiff emphasis on modernistic creators with this platform, giving them tools to promote their mods beyond Xbox Alive's social features, with admission to telemetry on how well their mods are beingness received and used.

Hopefully, we'll hear more before long ...

The Xbox Customs Content platform sounds similar an awesome pace for everyone involved. Games with mod support tend to enjoy longer life spans, and some of the best mod builders out there take found paid piece of work inside the industry on the backs of their awesome creations.

Every bit always, plans can (and often do) change, so hang tight for an official declaration. But considering how much piece of work has already been washed to gear up these features, likewise equally job hirings at Microsoft, I'd say nosotros should hear more than nearly this new modding platform sooner than later.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-microsoft-exploring-bringing-mods-xbox-one

Posted by: watkinsworick.blogspot.com

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