Gameplay videos are increasingly becoming popular. There is a dedicated community of people who create and watch such videos, and it continues to grow with each passing day. Microsoft Studios has seen this trend and adapted accordingly. It will now allow users to monetize gameplay footage provided that they agree to a couple of things.
The updated Microsoft Studios rules state that “a personal, non-exclusive, non-sublicenseable, non-transferable, revocable, limited license for you to use and display Game Content and to create derivative works based upon Game Content”.
This means that gamers will be allowed to create derivative creative work using gameplay footage, as well as music, screenshots and other content from the various gaming titles that belong to Microsoft Studios. Its not like this isn’t already being done but the change in formal policy gives it a legal cover.
Video creators will have to agree that they will not reverse engineer software to use content that’s objectionable and offensive. They will be allowed to make money off of those videos as well, only on YouTube and Twitch though, advertising on other platforms will not be allowed.
These new rules apply to all titles that are owned exclusively by Microsoft Studios with the exception of Minecraft. Mojang was acquired by Microsoft last year but so far the Minecraft brand guidelines remain the same as before.