The Redmond giant believes that studios developing for rival platforms have a great perspective to learn from…

Xbox’s research department has been player-centric, but now they’re starting to take game developers into account. Read more about this in a Microsoft blog post. The goal is to listen to developer partners in the Xbox ecosystem and work with product teams to provide insights and data that can help improve future devices and services.

By working directly with game developers, Xbox aims to gain access to data that will help address pain points and improve the experience of game launch partners across the spectrum of different disciplines. Dr. Deborah Hendersen, Senior User Researcher at Xbox, provided insight into this new initiative that could transform the relationship between platform owners and game developers.

The new program will use a variety of research methods that mirror those used in player-focused studies, but tailored to developers. Hendersen explains the approach. It really depends on the question we are trying to answer. Common methods include interviews, usability, playtesting, surveys, and testing. We do the same tests we do for game testing, but on devices and services,” said Hendersen, who also emphasized the flexibility of the program and the thoroughness of the recruitment process: “Whenever we recruit, we give people the details of the specific study so they can make sure they’re a good fit. Ensuring that people feel they can make a real contribution to the program is a key priority.”

The data gathered from these studies will play a critical role in shaping Microsoft’s offerings to game developers. The ultimate goal is to meet the diverse needs of developers, from large studios to independent creators. This strategy will allow Xbox to gain new perspectives. Xbox’s new research initiative is an attempt to take a forward-thinking approach to supporting game developers. By focusing on the people behind the games, the Xbox Research team aims to create an environment where developers of all sizes and backgrounds can thrive, ultimately leading to better experiences for gamers worldwide.

At least they remembered to plan for a larger audience.

Source: VGC, Microsoft