Microsoft actively works with indie developers, regularly announcing new programs to support them. The ID@Xbox initiative has already helped thousands of indie studios release their projects on Xbox consoles and within the Microsoft gaming ecosystem as a whole. However, as it turns out, there are long, unjustified delays.
The Blingame studio said on social networks that for 9 months it has not been able to get approval for an application to release the game HAAK under the ID@Xbox program. The studio was accepted into the program itself, it sent the necessary information for certification, after which everything was suspended for months, although it is stated that Microsoft considers such applications no longer than 15 working days.
Regarding the delay in the release of HAAK on Xbox on social networks, Blingame studio wrote following:
This is why HAAK is not released on Xbox. We submitted the application for review 8-9 months ago and also contacted Xbox multiple times via email but ultimately did not receive any follow-up decisions. We regret that we are unable to provide our games to Xbox users.
They attached a screenshot, which can be seen below, confirming that they sent an application back in June, but still no response:
A representative of the Blingame studio also said that he had already repeatedly contacted the ID@Xbox team through support, but he was always asked to “wait”, and the situation did not move forward.
Note that the HAAK game itself was released on Steam in 2022, where it has a “Very Positive” rating based on 2,000+ reviews. The project is a post-apocalyptic action platformer with Metroidvania elements.