Microsoft is planning to allow developers to publish universal apps for the Xbox One by the end of this year, according to rumors published by The Verge. The software giant will likely release a preview of the SDK in May.
Microsoft will reveal details of the combination of universal apps and the Xbox One during a Build Conference in April this year, according to The Verge. The website also claims that in May a preview of the SDK for app development will be released. Instead of requiring a special developers Xbox One, the SDK will also run on regular retail consoles with a special retail to developer kit. Both the SDK and the kit should become publicly available for developers to start creating apps in the summer timeframe.
By then all developers should get access to developing Xbox One apps. Currently only a select group of developers is allowed to make apps for the console. Current apps continue to run on the console, but Microsoft will switch to a new platform for the universal apps in November. The universal apps will work across devices like laptops, desktops, tablets, phones and the Xbox One.
The developers will get the opportunity to test their apps and Microsoft will allow apps that run in the background. This allows e.g. music apps to continue to work when an user is playing games. What the role of Kinect will be when the universal apps become available remains vague.
