Microsoft’s publisher requirement holding back Warframe from Xbox One release

Digital Extremes, creators of Warframe, would "love" for their free-to-play title to be available on the Xbox One. After all, the third-person shooter seems like a natural fit for consoles and given that it's already confirmed as a launch game for the PS4, what's the hold up?

"We would love to see Warframe on Xbox One, the ball is in Microsoft's court with regards to allowing titles on their system that come from an independent developer and not an established publisher," explained VP of publishing Meridith Braun.

Microsoft has repeatedly said that it requires developers to partner with a publisher or Microsoft Studios itself in order to release games on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. This is to ensure that only quality content appears on the Xbox; but what Microsoft fails to recognize is the additional expense that partnering with a publisher entails. In most cases, publishers will take a cut out of the associated revenues, which many smaller, indie studios simply can't afford to do.

The good news is that Warframe is already available on PC via Steam and will be coming to PlayStation 4 for those who want the console experience. Who knows, with Microsoft's willingness to remove its policy of charging developers to update their games, perhaps they'll rethink the publisher requirement as well.

[OXM]