Microsoft has announced that the Anniversary update for Windows 10 and Xbox One which will arriving in the summer will be able to transform all Xbox One retail consoles into devkits.
This fantastic feature, which should help indie development tremendously for self-publishing, will actually be releasing today in a preview test for those who have joined the Windows Insider Program. The newest available SDK on Windows 10 PC will allow users to activate Xbox Dev Mode.
While in Xbox Dev Mode, users cannot run retail builds of games and apps like most devkits and will need to enter Retail Mode to return the Xbox One to its original state. While the Anniversary update will be free, there is currently a minimal charge of $19 to create a personal account to initiate the process of activating Xbox Dev Mode.
This new feature is in line with Microsoft's change of heart when it comes indie developers, who have needed to acquire a publishing deal with Microsoft or a third party in order to publish their games on Xbox consoles. Of course, indie devs will still need to go through all of the typical hoops of the approval process and other standard procedures to get their games on Xbox One, but the cost and waiting time have been reduced.
