Microsoft has implemented some major changes to the way the Xbox developer enables in-game achievements, looking to take action against games exploiting the system. Microsoft and Xbox were pioneers of the modern achievement system in gaming when the developer first debuted its "gamerscore" system with the Xbox 360. Achievements and gamerscore have long been a way for the most avid gamers to show off their personal in-game accomplishments, with some even taking the gamerscore challenge a step further. Now, however, Xbox's new policies are looking to combat games with absurdly easy achievements.
Xbox's introduction of an achievement system in the mid-2000s would quickly see several other gaming consoles and platforms follow suit in future generations. Sony would add its own trophy system for the PS3 in 2008, later bringing the feature to its other consoles with many multiplatform games featuring similar Xbox achievements and PlayStation trophies. Steam would also add its own achievement system in 2007, following the success of Microsoft's system. Achievements have become a staple of modern gaming and, now, Xbox is looking to address one of the system's biggest flaws.
An anonymous developer within the ID@Xbox program would recently reveal a major change implemented to Xbox's game certification program at the start of May. The new program adds several new examples of games that would fail certification, including games whose achievements can be completed "within a few hours of starting the game." The policy update also looks to take aim at games where the achievements don't "represent a thorough exploration of game content." Games requiring little input to complete their achievements were also a target of the change.
Xbox's new policy looks to target games requiring little investment or input from players in order to quickly inflate their gamerscore. Many of Xbox's indie games have often featured easily acquirable achievements due to the shortness of a game's length, only requiring 3 to 4 hours for a complete playthrough. However, the system has often been abused by indie games requiring little effort on the player's end in order to rack up gamerscore to artificially boost their profile.
The major changes to Xbox's gamerscore policy come as buzz around the developer has begun to heat up ahead of the summer reveal season. Xbox would confirm its June Xbox Games Showcase earlier this month, setting the presentation for a June 11th broadcast date. The annual showcase from Microsoft is set to feature major first-party titles including Forza Motorsport, with rumors also claiming a Persona 3 remake may be announced during the show. Xbox's new changes to its achievements policy comes at the cusp of what looks to be an exciting summer for fans.
Source: TrueAchievements