Report: Xbox 360 to get self-publishing

Microsoft is to open up Xbox Live to self-publishing in August, claims independent developer FarSight Studios.

The studio has had a bumpy ride after its former publisher, Crave Entertainment, went bankrupt last year and lost its license with Microsoft.

As a result The Pinball Arcade, FarSight’s unique take on the classic game that simulates actual arcade tables, was pulled from the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Since then, FarSight managed to get successful Kickstarter and Steam Greenlight campaigns for their game, and today revealed the good news that it would be returning to the Xbox 360.

“Microsoft has just announced that indie developers (like FarSight) can now self-publish on Xbox Live Arcade instead of being required to find publishers for their games,” reads an announcement to the Steam community.

“This means we can bring the Pinball Arcade back to the 360 ourselves, and also opens the door to an Xbox One version of the Pinball Arcade in the future!"

"Microsoft has stated that the new program will open in August- we will do everything we can to get the Pinball Arcade (and all of the new Table Packs) back on the Xbox 360 as quickly as possible."

Microsoft sent a somewhat cryptic response to Gamasutra, which denied only that the company had announced such a policy change, and tried to push attention back to the Xbox One.

"We have not announced any changes to our publishing policy for Xbox 360,” said a Microsoft spokesperson.

“We look forward to sharing more about self-publishing on Xbox One at Gamescom."