2. No Self-Publishing For Indie Developers
Originally, Microsoft required Indie developers to have expensive custom hardware and publish them with a reputable partner (as you currently do on XBLA) for quality control purposes. In a recent announcement by Microsoft, they stated that Indie developers can use any Xbox One as a development platform and self-publish games. The new version is similar to the iTunes app store, and Microsoft is aiming for a 14-day turn around from submitting a game to having it appear on the dashboard. Microsoft also plans to set the final retail price of the games, taking away the option for indie developers to control the value of their games. However, Indies will still be set at a wholesale price, meaning Microsoft takes into account the price of any discounts.