Microsoft Build 2013: Xbox One and Windows Phone get Unity support

Could be a Sony-baiting move, but what's the true value for developers?

Microsoft's Azure-based keynote this morning also contained a nugget of interest in the ongoing ‘battle for the living room' between Microsoft and Sony, as chief evangelist Steve Guggenheimer announced that popular game development environment Unity would be rolled out on three Microsoft platforms.

"We're bringing three-platform support to Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and Xbox One," said Guggenheimer, "so all the folks who use Unity today, you're now going to have that capability to build on Unity for Microsoft stores."

With a plugin from Azure Mobile Services, Unity will be able to grab data from the cloud, allowing games developers to utilise features such as games leaderboards and pointer positions, explained Guggenheim.

There will also be facility for the Kinect motion sensor and Xbox's mobile-device led SmartGlass to be integrated into the JavaScript and C#-driven Unity coding environment.

Guggenheim punctuated the announcement with word of a "hundred thousand dollar competition" to encourage developers to start coding for Microsoft platforms

The announcement can be read as an attempt by Microsoft to meet developers half way, after comparisons were drawn between Sony's self-admitted interest in working closer with independent developers on the PlayStation 4 console, while Microsoft's policy, after presenting the Xbox One at the E3 conference two weeks ago, had apparently remained the same as on the Xbox 360; self-publishing would not be possible, and Microsoft-based tools and coding environments would have to be used.

As it stands, while Unity resources will come free for Microsoft platform developers, they still must have their work published under the Microsoft Studios banner - a point that's been at the heart of unrest between indies and Microsoft for years.

Independent games developer, and Xbox Live developer, Brian Provinciano began tweeting shortly after the announcement, saying:

"It's another case where [Microsoft] spins a story hoping it will be interpreted like this, where people think it's big support.

"Unity is not free for Xbox developers, only those published by Microsoft Studios".

Provinciano reasoned that, typically, less than five Microsoft Studios titles are currently published on Xbox 360 every year, so Microsoft will not be paying for many licenses at all.

With Sony allowing self-publishing on PlayStation 4, Microsoft could still have a fight on its hands, Unity or not.

Last week, Microsoft reversed its DRM and second-hand software policy for Xbox One after public reaction - and more comparisons to Sony's product - called for a more traditional disc-based approach to ownership.

Microsoft also closed the doors on its indie-popular XNA development platform in February 2013.