Microsoft's simplified self-publishing program is now open to all game devs

After a five-month long pre-release run, Microsoft has opened up its simplified self-publishing initiative to the game development community at large.

First announced back in March, the Xbox Live Creators Program gives developers the ability to publish games to the Xbox One and Windows 10 store pages with only a simplified certification process and without the need for a dedicated dev kit or concept approval ahead of time.

The program also grants devs access to a number of social and Xbox Live features that can be integrated directly into their Universal Windows Platform games, including Xbox Live sign-in and presence, gamertag use, leaderboards, and Mixer broadcasting.

It is worth noting however that Creators Program titles don’t have access to the full suite of Xbox Live features. In order to include achievements, gamerscore, or online multiplayer in a game, developers will have to switch over to Microsoft's existing ID@Xbox program.

Games published through the program are nestled in a corner of the Xbox One store dedicated to Xbox Live Creators Program titles and separate from the rest of the store’s offerings, a division Microsoft says aims to provide a fully open marketplace without compromising the typically curated storefront players expect.

Already, nine games occupy that Xbox Live Creators Program store page: Animal Rivals, Block Dropper, Crystal Brawl, Derelict Fleet, ERMO, GalactiMAX!, Kubic, Space Cat!, and Stereo Aereo.

Developers looking to get started on the Xbox Live Creators Program can find more information on how to enroll, download the SDK, and submit a game over on the program’s developer portal.