Microsoft’s new program brings the power of Azure to indie developers everywhere, and could help combat crunch.
Microsoft has launched ID@Azure, a new program aimed specifically at helping independent game developers take advantage of the cloud. The program should allow participants to develop faster, work smarter, and have access to expert support – no matter what platform they’re working on, be it Xbox Series X or PS5. The program will offer tools to developers who sign up and allows smaller studios to access the same services and capabilities used by larger teams. Popular games such as No Man’s Sky, Rainbow Six Siege, and Sea of Thieves all rely on Azure – Microsoft’s in-house cloud computing service – to reach millions of players every day, so granting smaller studios access to these powerful tools is certainly exciting. Microsoft hopes that ID@Azure will encourage independent developers to implement cloud services into a development cycle, which can be as simple as creating online leaderboards or used to gather real-time player data which may improve a game’s design.
