Microsoft’s Xbox Live Creators Program is now open to all game developers

With Microsoft’s latest announcement, you can be a small indie developer and have your game available on the Xbox platform without going through the company’s existing channels. The new Xbox Live Creators Program lets any developer take a retail Xbox, which also serves as a dev kit, and use that to create and self-publish a game to the Xbox marketplace. The published game needs to be a Universal Windows App, meaning it would run on any Windows 10 device. Microsoft also reserves the right to remove the game from the store if it has “harmful or inappropriate content.” It also isn’t free as developers need to shell out a one-time fee that ranges from US$20 to $100. It isn’t clear how much developers will be charged.

Aside from those conditions, you can’t enable online multiplayer or access Xbox achievements features if you aren’t part of the ID@Xbox program. What you do have access to is leaderboards and party chat features. A downside is it looks like games published this way are kept in a separate section of the Xbox Store, which could minimize exposure of the game. The program is currently in its preview stage but is expected to open up to the public soon.

Source: The Next Web + The Verge

Netflix teases its first German show entitled ‘Dark’

In the same vein as Stranger Things, Netflix banks on the thrill of missing children with possible connections to the supernatural with its first German production. Called Dark, the show’s trailer sees children disappearing and seemingly swallowed by the earth near the town of Winden. But things don’t seem quite right. And it’s not just about the supernatural connection and the really creepy vibe the show exudes. There seems to be a pattern of when the kids are taken and as shown in the trailer, there are three significant dates shown in a diagram: 1953, 1986, 2019.

Dark is part of a US$1.75 billion wave of new projects coming to Netflix from Europe. And with Netflix expanding overseas, you can expect more foreign shows to appear on the service. Dark will premiere on Netflix in Winter of 2017.

Source: The Verge

Spotify might be testing Hi-Fi option

Similar to what Tidal is doing, Spotify might be giving its paying subscribers a better audio quality option. Of course, at an additional price. Some Spotify users have shared on Reddit that they’re being offered the Hi-Fi service for an additional US$5 to $10 per month. But those who did try to sign up have either been getting an error message or notices that it wasn’t available in their area. This new offering will supposedly be called Spotify Hi-Fi and will provide lossless CD quality audio, discounts on limited edition vinyl, and exclusive pre-sale concert tickets. However, Spotify refused to comment about this saying it tests “new offers and products all the time.” If it does roll out, will you be willing to sign up?

Source: CNET

Adobe Illustrator celebrates 30th anniversary

Adobe is celebrating Illustrator's 30th anniversary. Adobe Illustrator is the marquee creative tool for professional illustrators/ More than 180 million graphics are created with Illustrator CC on a monthly basis. Its output is everywhere, from the billboards you pass on the highway to the packages you see at the grocery. Read more about it here.