Microsoft debuted the Xbox Live Indie Games (XBLIG) marketplace on the Xbox 360 back in 2006 and in September 2015, they announced that they would begin the process of closing it down. XBLIG was a platform for independent game developers that allowed them to create games and have users access their games.
Ultimately, XBLIG was replaced by ID@Xbox, which is thriving today. Since the announcement, Microsoft has been slowly closing down the service, following the schedule below:
- September 9th, 2015: Users will no longer be able to purchase an annual membership subscription. Any creators who would like to continue active development after September 9th xblig@microsoft.com for free tokens to enable development until September 9th, 2016.
- After September 9th, 2016: Creators will no longer be able to publish their titles to marketplace.
- Around September, 2017: The Xbox Live Indie Games marketplace will be closed.
- Around November, 2017: We will make a final payout to all partners regardless of whether or not they meet the $150 minimum threshold.
Next month, XBLIG's marketplace will be closed and Microsoft has not issued any statement on what will happen to the indie titles currently found in the service.
[NeoGaf]
