[SoccerDad]

Microsoft is looking to squeeze a profit out of the gaming market with a new royalty program tied to the release of its next Xbox console.
Only accessory makers that get Microsoft's blessing and fork over a slice of their sales to the software maker will be able to produce Xbox 360 game pads, steering wheels, joysticks and other controllers.

Xbox Royalties

Be well, SD

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In one way this might prove beneficial to the quality of the enduser experience as they will be unable to play with unlicensed controllers, etc which are often poorly manufactured and liable to malfunction or just plain fall apart!

On the other hand, it's a really convenient way to make money without actually having to do anything. That's a good trick if you can pull it off, getting paid for someone elses hard work. I wish I had that sort of business acumen

Then again, how will we know that the 3rd parties will be chosen for their technical merit, rather than for monetary reasons?

[Baggyboy]

In one way this might prove beneficial to the quality of the enduser experience as they will be unable to play with unlicensed controllers, etc which are often poorly manufactured and liable to malfunction or just plain fall apart!

On the other hand, it's a really convenient way to make money without actually having to do anything. That's a good trick if you can pull it off, getting paid for someone elses hard work. I wish I had that sort of business acumen

Then again, how will we know that the 3rd parties will be chosen for their technical merit, rather than for monetary reasons?