Xbox One could become dev kit this year

Retail models of Xbox One could finally gain dev kit capabilities this year, according to fresh murmurings from Microsoft.

The Verge reports that the platform holder will be releasing more details about its Xbox One apps platform at its Build developer conference in April, including plans to turn consumers’ Xbox One units into development kits.

A preview of this SDK will be released in May, which is when the site’s sources claim the dev kit switch will become active. However, the report suggests this will be primarily focused on apps rather than games.

Microsoft plans to open up app development to all studios and app-makers, with applications able to run in the background behind Xbox One games, enabling things such as third-party music apps.

The Build conference will also offer more information on Microsoft’s universal apps, which will run on Windows 10 – due to arrive on Xbox One later this year.

Microsoft announced plans to transform the Xbox One into a dev kit around the console’s original unveiling. Develop spoke to studios about this feature’s potential back in 2013.