A new Microsoft Unity partnership will be bolstering Xbox and PC game development. Unity has chosen Microsoft Azure as its cloud partner, which Microsoft says will “make it easier” for game creators to bring their titles to both Xbox and PC platforms. Given that many popular and critically-acclaimed games, especially those in the indie genre, use Unity as their engine, this new deal will most likely bolster the Xbox catalog along with Xbox Game Pass.
How this Microsoft Unity partnership will improve indie game development
Unity selected Azure’s cloud computing services specifically for “building and operating real-time 3D (RT3D) experiences from the Unity engine,” as revealed by Microsoft’s Sarah Bond, CVP of Game Creator Experiences and Ecosystem, on an official blog. Some of the strongest PC and Xbox games already use Azure, so it’s not much of a surprise that Bond believes that this will “make it easier for game creators around the world to publish to Xbox consoles and PC so they can reach their communities.”
Game creators who already use Unity will be able to “more easily” reach players on Windows and Xbox devices. This bodes well for indie development as solid games like Cuphead, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Ori and the Blind Forest, Inscription, and Death’s Door all use the Unity engine. Beyond gaming, Microsoft says that Azure’s ability to power RT3D experiences will help other industries like energy, manufacturing, e-commerce, and medical sectors.
In March earlier this year, Microsoft announced the [email protected] program to assist indie game developers in using the Azure cloud with free tools, resources, and support. In particular, it aids games that run multiplayer servers or services, simplifying crossplay and cross-platform online capabilities. Back in 2019, Sony and Microsoft surprisingly entered a joint partnership to explore future cloud solutions using Microsoft Azure.
In other news, an update for the Steam client beta has added Nintendo Joy-Con controller support, and an Assassin’s Creed Valhalla database has revealed armor sets based on Iron Man.