Microsoft Corp will finally reap the fruits of its XNA project. Microsoft will now sell user generated Xbox 360 games in order to broaden the type of games available on its console.

This project will start later this year and the games will be sold online thru the Xbox Live service. Game creators will have a 70 percent cut of the total revenue.

XNA is a project initiated in 2006. During that time the corporation distributed game production tools to amateur game makers, hobbyists and enthusiasts. The games created from these tools can either be played on Xbox, a Windows-based computer or its Zune media player.

The idea is based on what YouTube and Facebook is currently doing. The two sites host a forum and offers new software applications and videos for free. But unlike Xbox’s plan, the two niche giants do not share any revenue to its users.

Video game developer hopefuls on the other hand are required to buy a $99-a-year premium membership to the XNA Creators Club before they can “sell” the games they engineered.

Game developers can earn between 2$ to 7$ per game sale, as the Xbox Live Marketplace will offer the game at three different rates - $2.50, $5 or $10 — using Microsoft points.

Microsoft anticipates the games created by users will double the number of games available for the Xbox 360 thus enriching the game platform.

Source: Reuters