Microsoft is seeking feedback from studios which aren’t on Xbox

The previously player-centric Xbox Research division is expanding to collaborate with game makers too.

In a blog post, Microsoft said it wants to engage with game developers to “help address pain points” and improve future tools and services.

The initiative is open to all members of game studios, not just technical staff, and Microsoft thinks it “could reshape the relationship between platform holders and game creators”.

As well as speaking to current Xbox developers, the company is seeking feedback from studios which aren’t currently releasing games on Microsoft platforms.

“If you aren’t on Xbox, we’d love to know why,” said principal user researcher Dr. Deborah Hendersen. “And honestly, if you are using our competitor’s products, you probably have a great perspective we could learn from!”

The initiative will “employ a variety of research methodologies, mirroring those used in player-focused studies but tailored for developers”, including interviews, usability, playtesting, surveys, and flighting.

US-based developers interesting in participating can now sign up to do so. Microsoft said it’s “working on expanding” recruitment to more countries.

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The company confirmed this week that it’s discontinuing its HoloLens mixed reality headsets.

Software support for the original HoloLens headset, which launched in 2016, will end in December, while HoloLens 2 will continue to receive “updates to address critical security issues and software regressions” until December 2027.