Microsoft forbids free Xbox content

IN AN OPEN conversation for the 1UP's podcast, Tim Sweeney disclosed how Microsoft is barring their efforts to offer free content for owners of Gears of War. Guys from Epic created six maps (two of which have been released to gamers) for this hit-title which earned Microsoft millions of dollars, but now Epic cannot release the remaining four maps. Reason is very simple: money.

Microsoft wants to build a business model around selling additional content for games, but blocking a game developer to offer free content is not the way to go. In fact, that is the way backwards and one of reasons why world predominantly use Windows, and not Mac OS.

As we all know, Epic Games is a company famous for its releases of free content for its games, like numerous map packs for Unreal Tournament series of games. In addition, getting a licence for its Unreal Engine 3 is possible via revenue-share, meaning that small gamedevs can get full access to leading engine for small change. µ

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