Microsoft To Lower Xbox Store Cut To 12%, Details For Platform Exclusives Shared In Unearthed Document

In the previous week, Microsoft illustrated to be putting developers first in a new remark for the Windows 10 Store. More precisely, the Xbox company for its PC purchases would continue to increase studio’s take from 70 percent to 88 percent. Ultimately, the firm would only walk out with a minimal 12 percent of each purchase. The decision falls to be Microsoft entertaining what Valve & Epic Games practice on its storefronts.

Acknowledging the problems still prevalent on PC as well, Microsoft pledges to further improve its experience for users. Namely, Xbox Game Pass for PC is one highlighted attribute that the company is planning to resolve coming in the latter parts of this year. “We’re also bringing more quality-of-life improvements to PC gamers, including improved install reliability and faster download speeds over the next few months,” it shares.

But according to new legal documents that surfaced from obscurity, Microsoft plans to push a similar agenda for its Xbox Store as well in regards to the amount developers take from each purchase. The document in mention is confidential paperwork that recently appeared over on CourtListener.

Originally penned in January 2021, the document suggests that Microsoft is aiming to issue the same 88/12 cut that is to be executed in August for its PC platform. However, Niko Partners’ David Ahmad does not believe the consideration is to be fulfilled. “This won’t happen,” Ahmad wrote in a quote tweet before deleting. Instead, he started a separate thread explaining his opinion.

“There isn’t much incentive for Microsoft or any of the console manufacturers to do this. Publishers will put their games on Xbox regardless.” He continues, “If Xbox were to drop its take rate on console today, across digital games and add ons, it’d be sacrificing 1/3rd of its total revenue.

“I imagine they would want to grow Game Pass subscribers and PC / Mobile business first so they’re not mostly dependent on console sw/sv.” Ahmad goes on to press that the decision will only be implemented for developers that agree to exclusivity deals as part of a two-year campaign by Microsoft if it is executed to benefit its platform.

The document also discloses that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will be a three-month exclusive to the platform. Recently, developer GSC Game World assured that there is no current plans for a console release outside of Xbox. But gathered that the document might not entirely benefit Microsoft, it could be potentially discarded witnessing the date of it being drafted. You can read the initial report by heading here.

What are you most surprised by the confidential document revealing?

Source: CourtListener