As developers from all around the world gather in San Francisco this week for the 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC), ID@Xbox has confirmed it has paid over $5 billion to independent developers globally since it launched in 2013. In the past year, the program saw over 1,000 games launched, including the very popular Balatro and Phasmophobia. It also gives developers the chance to support Xbox Play Anywhere (XPA), allowing their games to be played across multiple screens. There are over 1,000 titles that support XPA, meaning players can get them on Xbox and Windows PC at no extra cost. Saves, progress, and achievements are synced across devices. ID@Xbox says that XPA titles generally receive 20 percent more playtime as a result.
There’s also the Developer Acceleration Program (DAP), which helps ensure ID@Xbox has content that appeals to everyone. DAP is a program that fosters innovation for over 200 teams and creators globally. It assists developers by hosting information sessions with studios, providing port and prototype funding, and helping reduce the costs of bringing games to Xbox. Recent DAP titles include Botany Manor and Mullet Mudjack—both games are available on Game Pass.
Looking ahead, ID@Xbox has several exciting titles in the pipeline, including one of our most anticipated games of the year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 releasing on April 24. Today’s blog post even mentions Hollow Knight: Silksong, which might be the first time anything has officially acknowledged the game in a while.
