$5B for ID@Xbox, CARD QUEST Featured on Microsoft Store

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This week, Microsoft has been active in the gaming sector, with a series of major developments attracting widespread attention. The appearance of a "Steam" button on the Xbox interface hints at potential platform integration; the ID@Xbox program continues to provide strong support for indie game developers; Microsoft has made breakthroughs in graphics technology, releasing DirectX Raytracing 1.2; and lastly, Miracle Games' strategy card game CARD QUEST has successfully launched on Microsoft Store. Let's take a look at the details of these developments.

IID@Xbox Program Achievements Boost Indie Game Development

On March 19, Microsoft's official Xbox blog shared some exciting data. Since its launch in 2013, the ID@Xbox program has provided developers with up to $5 billion in funding.

The goal of this program is to help indie developers self-publish their games on Windows and Xbox without the involvement of traditional publishers, providing a broad space for developers with big dreams. In the past year, ID@Xbox has achieved impressive results, with over 1,000 games released. Titles like Balatro and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2: Heart of Chornobyl have brought fresh energy to the Xbox platform.

Microsoft has also heavily promoted the Xbox Play Anywhere feature, allowing players to buy a game once and play it seamlessly across multiple Microsoft platforms, with progress, achievements, and other data syncing across platforms. Over 1,000 games support this feature, and Microsoft claims this can increase developers' game playtime by 20%. Additionally, through the Developer Acceleration Program, Microsoft has partnered with over 200 teams worldwide, providing full support from information exchange to financial backing, and lowering the cost of bringing games to Xbox. The ID@Xbox program not only creates vast opportunities for indie developers but also provides players with more exciting games to choose from.

"Steam" Button Appears on Xbox Interface, Cross-Platform Integration Generates Anticipation

On March 21, tech media outlet The Verge reported an eye-catching development. During the unveiling of the new Xbox user interface, a surprising detail caught the attention of players—an unexpected "Steam" button appeared next to the "Game Pass" option.


This discovery instantly sparked widespread speculation. Traditionally, players have found it cumbersome to switch between different platforms, but with this new button, the idea arises—could Xbox be looking to integrate games from third-party platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store? In fact, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, has previously hinted at the possibility of introducing stores like Epic Games Store and Itch.io to Xbox. Microsoft has long been committed to turning the Xbox app into the core platform for PC gaming, and integrating Steam games could make managing multi-platform games much more convenient for players. Although third-party launchers already provide similar functions, the integration on the Xbox app could greatly enhance its appeal, potentially reshaping the platform landscape and offering players a whole new experience. This development is certainly worth keeping an eye on.


Microsoft Releases DirectX Raytracing 1.2, Graphics Technology Gets a Boost

On March 22, during the 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft unveiled DirectX Raytracing (DXR) 1.2, which it calls “the next evolution in graphics technology.”

As part of DirectX 12, DXR 1.2 focuses on real-time ray tracing, enhancing the realism of light and shadow effects in games. This update introduces two key technologies—Opacity Micro Map (OMM) and Shader Execution Reordering (SER)—which significantly improve ray tracing performance. OMM optimizes alpha-tested geometry, offering up to 2.3x performance improvement in path-traced games, while SER boosts rendering performance by up to 2x in certain scenes.

In addition to core technology upgrades, Microsoft has updated the PIX tool, introducing a new PIX API preview, expected to launch in April. Developers will be able to access these features through various programming languages. Furthermore, at the GDC Advanced Graphics Summit, Microsoft presented the cooperative vector technology in Shader Model 6.9, which provides hardware acceleration for vector and matrix operations. These technological breakthroughs will enhance the visual fidelity and smoothness of game graphics, delivering a more immersive experience for players.


Miracle Games' New Game CARD QUEST Launches on Microsoft Store and is Featured

On March 25, Miracle Games announced that its strategy card adventure game CARD QUEST officially launched on Microsoft Store and was featured on the homepage by Microsoft.


Set in a Gothic-style dream world, the game combines strategy card mechanics, random events, and tactical decisions. Players team up with six cat companions to fight against mutated cat monsters. The combat system is highly strategic, requiring players to carefully choose cards and character skills during turn-based battles. The game features multiple chapters, each with unique enemies, scenarios, and events, requiring players to select the right equipment to enhance their abilities according to the battle needs.

Additionally, the random event system and dream roulette mechanism ensure that each playthrough offers a unique experience. Random events can influence the progress of battles, while the dream roulette provides players with resources to enhance their abilities. CARD QUEST emphasizes strategy rather than numeric power, and with continuous updates and optimizations planned, it's a must-play for card game fans.


This week's series of updates from Microsoft showcase its proactive steps in platform expansion, technological innovation, and the promotion of new games. Have you had a chance to try out CARD QUEST yet? What do you think of its strategic design? What are your expectations for the potential integration of third-party platforms on Xbox in the future? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section and join the discussion about the future of Microsoft gaming and Microsoft Store.


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