It has been revealed that Microsoft had considered reducing their take from console games on the Microsoft Store to 12%, as they did with PC.

Microsoft recently announced they were reducing their take from PC games on the Microsoft Store to 12%. The move mirrors how the Epic Games Store was heavily promoted on giving a larger cut of sales- also taking only 12% from sales– but seemingly without a demand for exclusivity.

Thanks to the ongoing Apple vs. Epic Games court case and documents therein, The Verge reveal that Microsoft also considered reducing their net revenue on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games on the Microsoft Store to 12%. Page 8 of the Microsoft Store Policies & App Store Principles (page 9 of the .pdf) is the Microsoft Store Standard Fees & Revenue Share Overview.

Dated January 2021, it notes that transactions on all games are 30%, but will become 12% in 2021. It is also noted on page 11 (page 12 of the .pdf) under Store Policy Exception Summary that there would be a proposed caveat of XCloud streaming rights in exchange for the the 12% revenue for PC games.

“There is a proposal currently under Gaming Leadership Team consideration to adopt 88/12 as a public PC games revenue share for all games in exchange for the grant of streaming rights to Microsoft.”

A Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge on May 1st they had no plans to change the revenue share for console games at the time, and the next day stated “We will not be updating the revenue split for console publishers.” Microsoft also did not comment on the XCloud streaming rights proposal.

Microsoft are involved with the case as both Apple and Epic Games are calling Microsoft’s Vice President of Xbox Business Development Lori Wright as a third-party witness. She will be testifying next week.

This is not the only information being revealed from other companies in the Apple vs. Epic Games case. It has been revealed Sony demand publishers pay royalties on crossplay games where PlayStation players make up the majority of profit.

Image: Xbox