Develops peddling exploitative practices, such as selling Gamerscore and spamming the store with bundle offers, are now barred by Microsoft on Xbox. The gaming community expresses relief.
In the digital realm of the Microsoft Store for Xbox games, a practice known as bundle spamming has been a persistent issue. This tactic, employed by some developers, involves the release of multiple bundles of essentially the same game, each bundle offering different versions of the game as separate listings. The purpose of this strategy is to maximise visibility and digital shelf space, flooding the storefront with redundant entries [1][3].
However, bundle spamming is generally viewed negatively. It confuses customers, manipulates search algorithms, and degrades the user experience by making the store unnecessarily crowded [1][3]. Microsoft has recognised these concerns and has recently taken steps to address the issue.
The tech giant has imposed new rules that disallow bundles that combine undifferentiated platform SKUs. Instead, bundles must have meaningful differentiation, such as distinct editions (Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate) or platform-specific advantages like improved graphics, to ensure each listing provides unique value [3]. This enforcement is aimed at improving user trust, discoverability, and maintaining a cleaner, more navigable digital storefront [4].
Another strategy Microsoft is employing is making games Xbox Play Anywhere titles. This move can help in cracking down on bundle spamming and easy Gamerscore stacking, as it allows users to play their games on multiple platforms with just one purchase [2].
The community is celebrating this move, as the issue of bundle spamming has plagued the Xbox storefront for years. While bundle spamming is not always connected to "selling" Gamerscore, the two practices are often used in tandem [1]. With these changes, the Xbox storefront is set to become a more user-friendly and less cluttered space.
Sources:
[1] https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-store-bundle-spam-is-a-problem-heres-why/1100-6480941/ [2] https://www.windowscentral.com/how-xbox-play-anywhere-works [3] https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-cracks-down-on-bundle-spamming-in-the-xbox-store [4] https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-02-25-microsoft-cracks-down-on-bundle-spamming-on-the-xbox-store
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