Early reports appear to indicate Microsoft is opening up its gaming console, the Xbox One, to developers to tinker with their own apps with a software developer kit (SDK) expected to launch in May.
So far, only a limited number of apps are available for download on the Xbox One but Microsoft envision a future where its console will become more like the App Store or Google Play Store with millions of apps existing on its platform.
According to The Verge, the first details of the console’s app-filled future are believed to be revealed this April at Microsoft’s Build developer conference where they will subsequently release an SDK the following month.
It’s understood that developers will have the option to give their apps a beta release for the public to toy with before their final launch, all of which is a massive improvement on the current scale of apps on the console which is restricted to a limited number of developers currently.
The big change however for Xbox One app users is expected this November when app developers will finally be able to publish their work on the universal app SDK format, but existing apps should seamlessly transition to the new platform.