When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
This interview was edited for grammar and clarity.
Xbox did not see the contents of this article before publishing.
ID@Xbox has been a crucial part of Xbox for years, and it’s continuing to get bigger.
“We are a relatively new team,” Kim informed me.
“We started two years ago; half my team hit their two-year anniversary just recently.
We felt like we needed to make a proactive effort.
ID@Xbox has been a crucial part of Xbox for years, and it’s continuing to get bigger.
We needed to go out there.”
It’s not just about finding games, though; it’s about the developers themselves.
We have this event called ‘Xbox Discovery Day’…
This is Agnes Kim, the Director of Xbox’s Global Expansion team.
It’s a half day of fun learning about the Xbox platform.
We talk about tips and tricks to bring your games to Xbox."
We just kicked off Game Camp Asia across five countries in Asia."
Aspiring developers can learn from some of the best in the business.
“It’s an awesome program,” Kim bragged.
“It’s also a great way for us to find talent.
Some of these campers actually got into the Developer Acceleration Program.”
El Paso, Elsewhere is a highly rated shooter that came out of the Developer Acceleration Program.
This funding can be crucial for getting a game across the finish line.
However, that doesn’t mean the Global Expansion team has nothing to show players so far.
“Success stories are actually pretty easy to find.
The Global Expansion team is bringing even more devs under the ID@Xbox umbrella.
We have ‘The Palace on the Hill’ from Niku Games that we signed.”
you’re free to learn more onThe Palace on the Hill website.
Fallen Tear: The Ascension is a 2D, side-scrolling Metroidvania with JRPG elements.
Hand drawn environments pull from the visual styles of several other games.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
It’s a smooth, action-packed platformer following Hira, an orphan with mysterious powers.
However, there are also multiple unique towns full of interactive NPCs and secrets.
It’s the debut title from studio Winter Crew, and I honestly can’t wait to play it.
Combat is made to be fluid, tactical, and diverse, with some gorgeous visual effects.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
The visual style is lovely, and the gameplay seems both engaging and unique.
I love games that blend genres, and Fallen Tear: The Ascension certainly aims to do that.
This is a life-sim-meets-narrative-adventure following college student Makoto Hayakawa in 1993.
You’ll meet a lot of people during your journey, fully voiced.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
However, the heart of inKONBINI is in the interlapping of individual stories.
Makoto gets to know each customer in turn, learning of them through interactive conversations that the player directs.
It’s a relaxing, narrative-driven game that slowly treks across six episodes.
There is a huge variety of enemies in Fallen Tear: The Ascension.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
The game is a culmination of smaller moments in life.
Brocula must learn how to survive in this alien society.
There is a myriad of challenges in front of Brocula, financially, socially, and even bureaucratically.
26 biomes span this massive map.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
Go-Go Town!
at GDC 2024, and I loved it!
Build your city on the backs of mining, forestry, farming, fishing, and touristry.
You’ll also have to master platforming abilities to navigate the world.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
It’s all fair game, and it’s a blast to play with friends.
I don’t think I’ll want to play Go-Go Town!
by myself, but with my partner and/or my daughter?
In typical Metroidvania style, you’ll have to revisit old areas with new abilities.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
Yeah, that seems like a killer time with hours of potential joy.
I wasn’t aware that Go-Go Town!
is a Global Expansion game when I first demoed it at GDC, but that doesn’t really matter.
There are lots of diverse abilities to call upon in Fallen Tear: The Ascension.(Image credit: GDC Studios | Holysoft Studios)
Completed constellations grant unique abilities that help Layla progress through the world.
Just to be thorough, here are three more games you should be keeping an eye on.
9, 2024
Botany Manor has been on my radar for a while, and for good reason.
Stocking the shelves is just one of your responsibilities.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
Another game being made through the Developer Acceleration Program, Botany Manor is a puzzle-exploration game centered around botany.
It’s a relaxing, approachable first-person puzzle game with a lovely soft color palette and visual style.
Each plant is wholly unique, with different needs and processes required to successfully cultivate them.
You’ll also have to make sure to manage deliveries.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
Use your book to compile clues, and then grow the plants whenever you’re ready.
To succeed and return home with your spoils, you’ll need to work together with your friends.
Each player can customize their character and their arsenal, adopting different playstyles to fill specific roles.
Keeping the store clean and organized will help customers find what they’re looking for.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
This isn’t a survival-horror game you’re free to’t fight the horrors hunting you and your colleagues.
All you’re able to do is run, hide, and swim to survive.
Whether you or the rest of the surviving crew will depend on your cunning and tenacity.
That means lining up products and ensuring everything is in the right place.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
I want developers to know that they have a place to go."
It’s not just about brand-new games, either.
Situations like this exacerbate community concerns that developers lack interest in building games for the platform.
Ultimately, though, the game is about the conversations you’ll have here.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
“We’re interested in making sure that developers reach as many players as possible,” Kim said.
The Global Expansion team is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s an important one.
“I have no doubt that Xbox really cares about the independent developer scene, and investment carries on.
You may help customers in the store, but you’ll also have conversations about life itself.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
The leadership is behind it.”
Right now, more than 3,500 ID@Xbox games are in active development for Xbox, too.
“I want more developers to know about it because I think it’s great…
Of course, those who always wanted to run a convenience store will have a great time with that alone.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
There is still a way to communicate with us.”
I hope all this information helps!
Stay tuned to Windows Central for even more information out of GDC 2024.
It’s a charming, relaxing game that isn’t meant to be too challenging or frustrating.(Image credit: Nagai Industries)
There are lots of ways to make your living in Brocula.(Image credit: Destroyer Doggo)
You’ll have to learn how to navigate the town and talk to the locals.(Image credit: Destroyer Doggo)
Luckily, you’ll have a menagerie of helpful bats to keep track of your tasks.(Image credit: Destroyer Doggo)
Take care of yourself, as you’ll have to manage your blood intake and exhaustion levels.(Image credit: Destroyer Doggo)
Work a number of part-time jobs, including at a local garage.(Image credit: Destroyer Doggo)
Or explore the local forest, which is actually a treacherous dungeon.(Image credit: Destroyer Doggo)
My digital preview focused a lot on the co-op possibilities.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Of course, you’re welcome to play by yourself and enjoy the rides.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Or do some mining, if you’d rather work.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
With up to four-player co-op, though, everyone can do their own thing.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Or band together to get some serious work done.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Like building a bustling forestry industry to fund the town’s expansion.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
There’s even a photo booth you can use with your friends… If they’re not busy fishing.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Whether you’re farming or cleaning, there’s always something to do in your town.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
And, yes, you can fish.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Beeeeeeeeeeeeees. And a bike.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Local split-screen co-op like this isn’t very common anymore.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
You decide what your businesses produce and sell.(Image credit: Prideful Sloth)
Explore a gorgeous world and return the stars to their constellations.(Image credit: Mezan Studios)
Set in the middle east, you’ll have to traverse a variety of environments to succeed.(Image credit: Mezan Studios)
There’s so much life here, too.(Image credit: Mezan Studios)
You’ll have to solve some puzzles as well as battle enemies.(Image credit: Mezan Studios)
Mostly, though, Nightscape is about the atmosphere and unfolding story.(Image credit: Mezan Studios)
I’m about to start playing Botany Manor, and I can’t wait to tell you my thoughts.
Botany Manor has a pretty self-explanatory name.(Image credit: Whitethorn Games)
It’s strangely beautiful, with soft colors and bold lighting.(Image credit: Whitethorn Games)
You’ll explore not only the manor, but the grounds themselves.(Image credit: Whitethorn Games)
Your goal is to uncover plants to put in your book.(Image credit: Whitethorn Games)
There’s a lot to see in Botany Manor, but everything you need will always be nearby.(Image credit: Whitethorn Games)
Uncover the secrets of the manor and grow every plant you find.(Image credit: Whitethorn Games)
I couldn’t find a trailer for Jump Ship.
You’ll have to keep your space ship intact, including putting out wayward fires.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
Plan your missions with your team before embarking.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
Deploy a variety of weapons, such as this massive rocket launcher.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
Avoid pirates and other space bound threats.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
Or… Destroy them.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
On the ground, enemies will throw everything they can at you to stop you.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
Some of the environments I saw were truly gorgeous.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
The game isn’t truly open world, but it seems like you’re not that restricted when it comes to exploration.(Image credit: Keepsake Games)
Yeah, I’m not particularly interested in being face-to-face with this monstrosity.(Image credit: Secret Mode)
Something otherworldly is twisting the oil rig to its own dark needs.(Image credit: Secret Mode)
Something tells me this isn’t the escape you may want it to be.(Image credit: Secret Mode)
I never considered an oil rig as a horror locale, but it makes so much sense.(Image credit: Secret Mode)
Oh boy, underwater sections in a horror game.(Image credit: Secret Mode)
There are so many exciting games about to land on Xbox and PC from ID@Xbox.
The Monster Hunter franchise thrives on Xbox, so where is Stories?
Thousands of ID@Xbox games, and every day it becomes easier to release one of those games yourself.
