Xbox Live Indie Games face extinction in 2017

By Danny Cowan September 10, 2015

xblig ending service in 2017 shutdown header — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Xbox Live Indie Games (XBLIG), a service that publishes downloadable Xbox 360 titles made by hobbyist developers, will cease operations in 2017 as part of a “sunsetting process” Microsoft recently outlined.

The extended shutdown period will allow developers to finish and release in-progress games before the service is fully discontinued.

Microsoft announced that it is no longer accepting new subscriptions or membership renewals for the XNA Creators Club, an enthusiast-run community that evaluates and publishes Xbox Live Indie Games submitted by fellow users. Existing members will have their subscriptions extended through September 9, 2016, and afterward will receive a free lifetime Windows Developer account valued at $100.

New Xbox Live Indie Games will continue to be published through September 9, 2017. At that point, Microsoft will close its XBLIG online storefront, remove all existing games for sale, and pay out all revenue owed to featured developers.

Players who bought XBLIG content in the past will still be able to re-download their purchases after the shutdown. Microsoft also assures that it is taking steps to preserve existing XBLIG content for future study and analysis.

“Longer term, over the next two years we’ll be working with game conservationists and creators to preserve the legacy of XBLIG content,” Microsoft’s Chris Charla and Andy Dunn stated. “We look forward to sharing more details in the future.”

Launched in 2008 as Xbox Live Community Games, the Xbox Live Indie Games service currently hosts more than 3,000 titles created by enthusiasts and independent development studios. The bulk of XBLIG’s catalog consists of small-scale and niche projects, many of which are priced at $1 each.

Notable XBLIG hits include the music-driven twin-stick shooter I Made a Game with Zombies In It, the student-developed platformer CarneyVale: Showtime, and Minecraft-inspired sandbox construction titles like CastleMiner Z, FortressCraft, and Survival Games.

In the wake of this week’s shutdown announcement, longtime XBLIG developer Mommy’s Best Games announced that bundle all of its previously published games in a Steam compilation launching on September 23.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…

Gaming

3 great Xbox Game Pass titles you should try this weekend (April 26-28)

The current gen version of Fallout 4.

This has been a pretty busy week for new releases, with the likes of Another Crab’s Treasure, Stellar Blade, Sand Land, and more coming out. Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s video game subscription service, has also had quite a busy week. Three games in particular stand out as must-plays this weekend for those who want to delve a bit further into the service rather than spend money on a new game.

One is an excellent single-player Star Wars game from 2023 that you might have missed because of how busy last year was for big releases. Another is a new real-time strategy game that earned buzz on Steam in the lead-up to its release. Finally, there’s a Bethesda Game Studios classic that just received an Xbox Series X update that you can experience free of charge via Game Pass. If you're looking for a new game to start this weekend, but don't feel like buying something new, give any of these a try.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Gaming

The most common Xbox Series S problems and how to fix them

Xbox Series S placed on a white table with the controller just in front of it

There haven't been many complaints about Xbox Series S since it launched in 2020. Serving as the more affordable sibling of the premium Xbox Series X, it plays all the same games yet works at a lower resolution – allowing it to carry a nice price tag of $250. Users have reported a few common issues with Xbox Series S over the years, however, which run the gamut from Quick Resume crashing to HDMI-CEC not registering a connection.

Running into problems with your Xbox Series S? Here's a look at the eight most common Xbox Series S problems, along with how to fix them. If you can't fix the problem on your own, things might be more serious than expected. In that case, be sure to contact Microsoft for advanced troubleshooting or to get your console replaced.
Get in touch with Microsoft
Microsoft offers several support routes, so if you don't find a solution in this guide, make sure to reach out. If you encounter an Xbox Series S problem that needs our attention, make sure to tag us on X @DigitalTrends (loop in @XboxSupport, too). Otherwise, you can contact Microsoft using the options below.

Gaming

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes could be one of 2024’s best and boldest games

A character stands in front of a cracked mirror in Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.

If you’ve been following indie publisher Annapurna Interactive over the last two years, you might be familiar with Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. The new project from Sayonara Wild Hearts developer Simogo has gotten a spotlight at a handful of live-stream showcases since 2022, with trailers teasing its eerie tone and puzzling world. While we’ve known those details for a while, there’s still one burning question that remains: What the hell is it?

After a long wait, I finally have the answer to that question. Annapurna Interactive lifted the lid on the mysterious game, giving me unrestricted access to a full PC build of it. Though I’m still making my way through its puzzle-filled haunted hotel, I’ve played enough to get a good sense of what Simogo is delivering. I’ve also played enough to say, with confidence, that Lorelei and the Laser Eyes might just be one of 2024’s boldest and best games.
Puzzle-box horror
Though Lorelei and the Laser Eyes seems totally foreign when first glancing at its striking black-and-white art style, it's actually fairly easy to explain. It’s essentially a 1990s horror game with all the combat removed. My journey begins when I arrive at a creepy hotel where I’ll be helping an eccentric Italian auteur film his latest avant-garde masterpiece. There’s a lot of story there, doled out through scattered writing and occasional cutscene breaks, but the bulk of my time is spent solving the hotel.