Microsoft scraps Xbox 360 developer patch charges

Developers no longer have to pay to patch their games on Xbox 360.

Eurogamer reports that the policy change was made earlier this year. Until this point developers had to pay a fee upon the submission of patches. The exception to this was a game’s first patch, which could be submitted for free.

Microsoft retains the right to charge should it feel that developers are patching excessively”.

The rules apply to both digital and retail titles.

A year ago Fez creator Phil Fish came in for criticism after saying that he was unwilling to patch a bug in the game that potentially corrupted game saves because of the costs involved.

Microsoft later claimed that it had offered to help Fish with the charges.