Microsoft is lastly cracking down on an exploitative practise of cluttering its digital storefront with a number of copies of the identical game–known as bundle spamming–via a collection of recent insurance policies.
As reported in True Achievements, Microsoft raised the difficulty of an “enhance in bundle spamming” on the storefront, which has “resulted in numerous complaints from each builders and customers.”
In an e-mail despatched to builders, the company acknowledged, “After an investigation, Microsoft has decided that bundles specializing in completely different platforms with undifferentiated content material in an try to maximise digital shelf area are incompatible with Part 3 of the Developer Code of Conduct, as they confuse gamers and are an try to control the search outcomes for a sport.”
“We are going to now not allow bundles that include completely different platform SKUs of the identical sport. Moreover, different makes an attempt to control the Store search outcomes might end in bundles being delisted or not granted.”
Microsoft additionally set out a listing of recent standards required for getting a bundle listed that may “stop practices that would result in confusion, litter, or manipulation inside the Store ecosystem, thereby preserving a good and pleasant looking setting for all customers and publishers.” Whereas not exhaustive, these embrace:
- Bundles mustn’t consist solely of various SKUs of the identical sport (e.g., Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X|S, and Xbox PC variations) until there’s significant differentiation in content material
- Significant differentiation consists of editions equivalent to Commonplace, Deluxe, or Final, the place every supplies distinctive or extra content material, in addition to instances the place the distinct platform variations have notable variations, equivalent to decision or body charge
- A single product with comparable or minimally differentiated bundles taking on an extreme variety of slots in new releases, search outcomes, or different Store channels isn’t permitted
- A number of product bundles through which the platform is the one factor distinctive between two bundles of the identical content material are usually not permitted
- Visible and content material differentiation must be clear to keep away from buyer confusion and Store litter
- Don’t create bundles with the only (or perceived) intent to control discounting cooldown intervals, search outcomes, or different discovery mechanisms, or to control in any approach the operation of the Store
Whereas decluttering its storefront, Microsoft can be making it simpler for Xbox customers to trace their owned video games with an replace to the Xbox Dashboard that features a “Free with Xbox” tab, which separates demos and limited-time trials from “Owned Video games”.