Microsoft could drastically cut Xbox store fees, court docs suggest

Microsoft could dramatically reduce Xbox digital store fees charged to developers, according to documents filed in the Epic Games vs Apple legal case.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced it would slash the amount it charges developers to sell their games on its PC store to 12 percent (down from 30 percent), undercutting Steam and matching the deal offered by the Epic Games Store.

Now, according to court documents spotted by The Verge, it looks like Microsoft is planning to do the same thing on consoles.

In a document from January, where it also lists the 12 percent cut to PC games announced this week, Microsoft states that “all games will move to 88 / 12 in CY21” on the Xbox store.

On console, this level of reduction would be unprecedented, as currently Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all take 30 percent on digital game sales.

In a statement issued to The Verge, a Microsoft spokesperson played down the documents, stating: “We have no plans to change the revenue share for console games at this time.”

UPDATE: Microsoft has released a new statement claiming that the revenue spit cut is not happening.

The Epic Games vs. Apple trial is set to take place on Monday, where Microsoft’s business development VP Lori Wright is set to speak, alongside other industry executives.

It is projected that Epic CEO Tim Sweeney will be examined for almost eight hours and that Apple CEO Tim Cook will be on the stand for just over two hours.

Sweeney is likely to discuss Epic’s history, business model, relationship with Samsung, and discussions with Apple and Google, while Cook’s examination is expected to focus on his company’s corporate values, its app store and its competitors.

The in-person bench trial will last for approximately three weeks. The tentative witness list includes executives from Microsoft, Facebook and Nvidia, including Facebook gaming vice president Vivek Sharma.