Lionhead: Microsoft to Announce New Indie Strategy ‘Very Soon’

Speaking to Official Xbox Magazine UK Lionhead's Gary Carr insisted that Microsoff is "very passionate" about indie gaming adding that Phil Harrison, head of Microsoft's European developer relations, was working on a new strategy for indies which will be revealed "very soon".

"Oh, I think you'll find he's {Harrison's] coming," Carr said. "His platform is very soon, don't you worry about that."

When asked specifically whether Microsoft will allow for self publishing on Xbox One Carr commented, "I certainly know that Microsoft want to talk at future press events about their relationships with indies. I can't really talk about that, but they're very passionate about building a strong relationship with indie development – indie development is the future.

"I've been an indie developer for 23 of my 28-year career, there is no future to the games business without indie developer, they always will shape the industry, and the big corporations will follow. So that relationship is important. 

"I don't mind having the big players like the Sonys. the Microsofts, the Amazons. I think you need these big giants out there, they kind of hold it all together in some ways, but the real driving force of the industry has always been independent development. That's what shapes and changes and creates innovation. I think they can coexist."

Microsoft recently changed its policies to allow for free game patches but so far their stance on self-publishing has not shifted. This is in stark contrast to Sony which has virtually no restrictions on game publishing whatsoever for PS4. 

At gamescom next month Microsoft are set to host a press conference at which they may announce their new indie rules.