Nintendo once set out to taking down YouTube videos that featured gameplay footage from their franchises, but just last year made an about face, deciding to work with people through an affiliate program. The rise and ever-growing popularity of Let’s Plays forced many companies to step back and reconsider their stance due to one unavoidable fact: a lot of people experience games this way (read: free marketing).

This month, Microsoft updated its own stance on monetization through its Game Content Usage Rules, and can only be seen as good news for YouTube and Twitch creators. Long story short, Microsoft supports the endeavor, provided that content creators follow a few (16) rules. Most of the rules are obvious, forbidding inappropriate content like pornography, cracking open games and extracting their assets, etc. But a few are a little more interesting, like the one that expressly forbids the created content from being exclusive to a distributor.

According to the company, they’re supporting content that will be shared “far and wide”; making something exclusive would go against that. Furthermore, videos can’t be placed behind pay walls, subscriptions, or anything that requires people to pay to see it in the first place.

Regardless of what people decide to make and share with the world, however, the following disclaimer has to be posted somewhere on the same page as the video where people can easily spot it. Microsoft has to get some credit, right?

While it’s nice to see Microsoft allowing YouTube and Twitch users to earn money for their efforts, they’re also subject to Microsoft cutting them off, should they go against the aforementioned rules. Presumably, the same will be done if people try to bend them. That said, creators have the tech giant’s support, which is nothing to frown at.

Anyone interested in using Microsoft games for their own ideas should give the rules a thorough read. Plausible deniability probably won’t work in your favor if you go astray. What say you about the companies guidelines? Well within their rights, and something to be applauded, or something that should be closely examined before completely complying?

Source: Microsoft