Support NeoGAF

[SerTapTap]

Gamingbolt has the story:

“Mostly because Sony reached out to us with a deal we couldn’t reasonably refuse,” Creative Director Evan Greenwood said to GamingBolt. But even if they want to launch on the Xbox One, they can’t due to the parity clause. “As far as I know Microsoft has a clause in their contract where they won’t accept an indie game if it launches on Xbox after Playstation.”

Sounds like this was more on the developer than Devolver, but it still seems significant to me that some Devolver games will be skipping Xbox One, they're one of the biggest indie publishers. Broforce is also pretty popular and already on Steam, it seems there's a real risk of "everywhere but Xbox" being a common release target if the Parity clause continues.

Edit: Since it's so frequently misunderstood by new posters, I'll go ahead and point out that the dev is not incorrect in his assumption of the parity clause. The clause has been public knowledge for over a year and has explicitly been defended by Phil Spencer.

The way it works is developers must give release date and feature parity for multiplatform releases or release on Xbox first, so releasing on PS first de facto excludes you from releasing on ID@Xbox, the only self-publishing option available on Xbox One. There are case-by-case exceptions for unknown, almost certain NDA reasons, which is how some games like Warframe have come to the platform.

 

[The Jackdog]

“Mostly because Sony reached out to us with a deal we couldn’t reasonably refuse,”

Are you the parity clause is the only reason why?

Either way, more evidence that clause HASSS to go.

The reasons for keeping it are all dumb and the reasons to get rid of it are all good

 

[Herb Alpert]

THis parity clause will end biting them in the ass.

 

[NeOak]

Here we go again

 

[John Caboose]

Fuck the parity clause.

 

[Impeccable]

Sounds like it's a free PS+ game.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

MS has dug its own grave. Good.

 

[bryanee]

I cant wait for this game.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

THis parity clause will end biting them in the ass.

End? It is already!

 

[Ricky_R]

I can already see the 180 in the horizon.

 

[Castef]

Ehm... Thread title is a bit misleading.

Main reason is a deal with Sony.

 

[SerTapTap]

Are you the parity clause is the only reason why?

Either way, more evidence that clause HASSS to go.

He explicitly calls out the parity clause. Sony has timed exclusivity for pub-fund games, but they've openly expressed that they do not have any equivalent to the parity clause. Seems more like they have a deal with Sony so they hit there first (whether by contract or by ease who knows), and Microsoft's policies prevent them regardless of what deal they made with Sony.

As long as Sony reaches out first and Xbox blocks by default, they basically get free exclusivity handed to them.

 

[dugdug]

"First class" citizens lose again.

There's no way this parity clause lasts much longer.

 

[RPGam3r]

I would rather play these on my X1 over my PS4 so I can rake in more achievements. Need to keep competitive on that leader board!

 

[oti]

"As far as I know"?
Shouldn't they know everyhting about it?

 

[Zombie James]

Whoever thought handcuffing indie developers was a great idea should be fired. The fact that it's still around after all this backlash is a massive failure on MS' part.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

Ehm... Thread title is a bit misleading.

Main reason is a deal with Sony.

Sounds like the main reason it is hitting consoles is because of Sony deal but the main reason it wont be on xbox is because of the clause

 

[PhatSaqs]

“Mostly because Sony reached out to us with a deal we couldn’t reasonably refuse,”

If Sony reached out with Pub Fund money this has little to do with parity clause.

 

[Marcel]

Phil still hard at work not doing anything about the parity clause.

 

[Begaria]

The indie parity clause never made sense to begin with, but makes even less sense considering Microsoft has made exceptions to it (i.e. Outlast). If you make exceptions to the rule, and will likely do so again in the future, why even have the rule in the first place?

 

[delSai]

This parity clause is horrible.

 

[RPGam3r]

"As far as I know"?
Shouldn't they know everyhting about it?

I would agree that the verbiage makes it sound like they have not even tried, or remotely considered the platform.

 

[backflip10019]

Well except that there have been multiple instances in which the parity clause has been abandoned in favor of bringing a game to the Xbox One. Seems like this dev didn't even negotiate with MS.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

If it was Microsoft who offered them "a deal they couldn't reasonably refuse", what's the probability that the thread title would contain the word "moneyhat" instead and that the conversation would be focused on that?

 

[Jimmyfenix]

"As far as I know"?
Shouldn't they know everyhting about it?

Not really. In chubs threads its common for some indie developers to receive no information from xbox and id@xbox

 

[On Demand]

Paging Amir.........

EDIT-

I thought he made that certain thread.

Paging chubigans.

 

[Nemesis_]

Parity clause seems so weirdly backwards and it seems so against Phils vision for the brand when compared to all the other decisions he's made or reversed.

Is it maybe out of good faith for those who have signed into an ID@Xbox contract already under such stipulations? Needs to be changed regardless.

 

[ebullientprism]

The Parity clause is such a dumb idea.

You can force something like that down developers throats when you are the place to be for indies, dominating in sales and mindshare. This isnt 2007. The Xbox 1 isnt the Xbox 360.

If it was Microsoft who offered them "a deal they couldn't reasonably refuse", what's the probability that the thread title would contain the word "moneyhat" instead and that the conversation would be focused on that?

100%.

 

[Horsemama1956]

Uhh, the parity clause is a problem for them, but they have a deal with Sony where they can't release both versions at the same time or something? it's OK to have an exclusive deal with Sony to launch on their system first, but not to have a clause to prevent games coming out after on the Xbox one?

It's a stupid rule, but these guys should have just released the game on both at the same time? I'm confused as to what their problem is.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

when is it coming to ps4 I've been waiting for this since PAX EAST last year!

It's a stupid rule, but these guys should have just released the game on both at the same time? I'm confused as to what their problem is.

Small developers often don't have the manpower to launch on multiple platforms at once. And Sony offers deals to small devs like the Pub Fund, giving them an advance on royalties to help pay for their development and self-publishing. When you have one platform holder doing stuff like that, and another platform holder doing stuff like the parity clause, it becomes a no-brainer.

 

[AmuroChan]

Can't they just ask for an exception? Contrast came to the XBO after it was released on the PS4.

 

[Marcel]

Can't they just ask for an exception? Contrast came to the XBO after it was released on the PS4.

They shouldn't have to go through Microsoft's parity clause red tape in the first place.

 

[funkystudent]

Sounds like it's a free PS+ game.

More like its due to the 3rd party production team doing a good chunk of the leg work for them.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

I can already see the 180 in the horizon.

Let's wait to see how well does before we call a 180 ...

 

[thewhitehawk]

That Microsoft clause sure helps make Xbox One owners feel like first-class citizens alright.

I don't understand how Microsoft can be so agile and flexible when it comes to certain things that harm their business but so blind and arrogantly stupid when it comes to others.

 

[Stone Ocean]

"As far as I know"?
Shouldn't they know everyhting about it?

Why should they know everything about a contract they weren't going to sign?

 

[Klart]

THis parity clause will end biting them in the ass.

That ass is bleeding everywhere already.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

Uhh, the parity clause is a problem for them, but they have a deal with Sony where they can't release both versions at the same time or something? it's OK to have an exclusive deal with Sony to launch on their system first, but not to have a clause to prevent games coming out after on the Xbox one?

It's a stupid rule, but these guys should have just released the game on both at the same time? I'm confused as to what their problem is.

indie devs don't always have the manpower to do simultaneous releases

the clause is fucking stupid. period.

 

[gaming_noob]

Someone tweet Spencer. Less games for XB1 owners is not good.

 

[dugdug]

Why are people bringing up pub fund? Pretty sure all of these Devolver games are self-funded.

 

[ElNino]

He explicitly calls out the parity clause. Sony has timed exclusivity for pub-fund games, but they've openly expressed that they do not have any equivalent to the parity clause. Seems more like they have a deal with Sony so they hit there first (whether by contract or by ease who knows), and Microsoft's policies prevent them regardless of what deal they made with Sony.

As long as Sony reaches out first and Xbox blocks by default, they basically get free exclusivity handed to them.

This comment,

“As far as I know Microsoft has a clause in their contract where they won’t accept an indie game if it launches on Xbox after Playstation.”

Implies that they haven't even discussed bringing the game to Xbox becuase they have a deal with Sony that would prevent it anyways. We have heard from the MS indie program that the clause is not a blanket one, and that you just need to talk to them about it.

That being said, the clause should probably go anyways.

 

[Alx]

“As far as I know Microsoft has a clause in their contract where they won’t accept an indie game if it launches on Xbox after Playstation.”

It's clearly not a rule set in stone. See Warframe, for example.

 

[LAA]

Good I'm glad it's skipping it.
It needs more of this to put pressure on MS to drop it. I'm glad devs aren't backing down either and going to MS first or whatever so they can launch on PS later. The whole thing's bull. Sadly even if they drop it, if MS is "winning" next gen, I think they'll just add some crap like this again.

 

[delSai]

Can't they just ask for an exception? Contrast came to the XBO after it was released on the PS4.

Didn't Adam say that all Devolver Games are coming console exclusive to PS4 at E3? Would be too late now, if i remember that correctly.

 

[Endo Punk]

Make sure the game is awesome then so MS can't resist but to bend rule.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Microsoft is in no position to try and throw their weight around with a parity clause. I expect them to throw in the towel and reverse their silly policy

 

[Marcel]

Someone tweet Spencer. Less games for XB1 owners is not good.

People have tweeted Spencer every time this comes up and he blows smoke up our asses about it.

 

[RamzaIsCool]

Can't they just ask for an exception? Contrast came to the XBO after it was released on the PS4.

Am I the only one who thinks that having "exceptions" is more fucked up then when the parity clause is enforced for everybody equally. At least when it's enforced for everybody it's fair game for all. I mean you know what happens if you don't release it on the XBO at the same time. But now some can get exceptions, but based on what? The whole situation is just iffy imo.

 

[Castef]

Can't they just ask for an exception? Contrast came to the XBO after it was released on the PS4.

So did Outlast, Guacamelee, Rogue Legacy, Warframe. The Parity Clause right now seems a bit in jeopardy...

 

[Pai Pai Master]

Why are people bringing up pub fund? Pretty sure all of these Devolver games are self-funded.

It's not necessarily Pub Fund, but maybe Sony offered them big promotional deal or they are going to feature the game on PS+. Either way, Pub Fund is an example of things Sony is doing good for indie developers and the Parity Clause is an example of something that's bad for them.