Xbox Live Compute gives free cloud tech to all devs, including dedicated servers

Microsoft is making its Xbox One cloud servers free for all developers to use, including dedicated server support for all multiplayer games.

In an Xbox Newswire post, Xbox Live's lead program manager John Bruno announced Xbox Live Compute, an initiative enabling "game creators to utilize the scalable computing resources that Microsoft deploys within our regional datacenters, to enhance their game experiences beyond what is generally possible with the finite resources of a console".

"We chose to provide cloud features that allow the game creators to push the limits of their gameplay experiences and apply the bulk of their investments to game creation, rather than server and operational resources. In fact, we even give them the cloud computing power for FREE so they can more easily transition to building games on Xbox One for the cloud," he said.

In a series of bullet points, Bruno outlined the advantages of cloud tech for Xbox One games, namely higher fidelity game experiences; improved multiplayer game experiences; adaptive and evolving game play; and on-demand compute improves game availability.

Given that Microsoft is giving away free access to cloud servers, it follows that all multiplayer games on Xbox One could utilise dedicated servers, generally considered a better alternative than peer-to-peer; in a tweet, Microsoft's Albert Penello confirmed this is the case.

One other concrete advantage is that the flexible nature of Microsoft's cloud servers means that resources are allocated to meet demand; speaking to GamesIndustry, Bruno pointed out that hypothetically, servers for specific titles will never need to be shut down.

The Xbox One goes on sale in November.

Thanks, GameInformer, Shack News.