Microsoft has decided to clean up its digital store after years of complaints from players and small studios.
During the Game Developers Conference 2026, the company announced key policy changes to the Microsoft Store. They are aimed at combating unfair promotional practices. The main problem concerned the "New Releases" section: it was often filled with almost identical sets of the same games, which caused other premieres to quickly go down the list.
The main change is new algorithms that should prevent developers from displacing competitors. Now you cannot publish the same game in several different editions at once. Previously, some publishers released one project in five versions and occupied almost the entire new products section. Microsoft has updated the code for developers and emphasized that each game should have equal chances of visibility, and attempts to manipulate algorithms will be suppressed.
For independent studios, this is a chance to get more attention. Unlike Steam, where new items are quickly lost in the stream of releases, the new games section on Xbox has often become the only opportunity to make a name for yourself without large marketing budgets.
The ID@Xbox team also announced that it will continue to promote independent projects through the "Indie Selects" program and editorial selections, which will showcase unusual games from around the world. For players, this should mean less "digital garbage" in the list of new items.
