Last E3 Microsoft has embraced philosophy early access announcing the Game Preview program, which allows developers to start selling their securities when they are still in development, updating them on a regular basis until the final out. This allowed the Xbox One players to start playing with the excellent Elite: Dangerous , The Long Dark and, a few days ago , to the interesting survival/shelter Simulator Sheltered .

Other independent games benefit Game Preview program in the future: among these were announced ARK: Survival Evolved and We Happy Few , but also developed titles will come directly from Microsoft.

During the Gamescom the House of Redmond has announced that the Game Preview program will in future be used for the first party titles, allowing players to be involved in developing them, suggesting changes and experienced firsthand the various stages of production. Be careful though, because the Game Preview is not a beta program: the players are charged full price for games and this will also ensure the final game when it will be released.

It is not clear whether this applies to AAA titles or only for productions such as Ori and the Blind Forest , but it is more likely this second hypothesis. We will update you when there will be more news about it.