ManaByte
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Exclusive: New Xbox rule changes look to target easy Gamerscore titles
Microsoft has made significant changes to Xbox achievement rules in what appears to be an attempt to stop extremely quick completions and easy Gamerscore titles from flooding the Xbox store.
As per our source, a developer in the ID@Xbox program that wishes to remain anonymous, Microsoft recently made several changes to its Xbox Game Certification Rules when it comes to achievements and Gamerscore. These rules govern what is allowed when publishing games on the Xbox platform, and according to our source, an update was made on Monday, May 1, 2023, to those rules that aims to stop developers from releasing easy Gamerscore titles that can be completed in just a few minutes or with minimal user input.
However, more significantly, Microsoft has also added three new fail examples to XR-055:
From our understanding, if a game meets one of these fail examples, the game will not pass certification, and Microsoft will block it from being published onto the Xbox platform.
- All achievements can be unlocked within a few minutes of starting the game
- Achievements do not represent a thorough exploration of or engagement with game content
- Achievements can be unlocked without any (or minimal) user input unless required as part of the core gameplay loop
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