Hi there,
That question (Why do some 3rd Party add-ons work on PC, but not on Xbox?) has been stumbling me for a while. Why won’t a PC add-on work on Xbox? Like the CRJ for example. Been on PC for over a year, why can’t it be brought to Xbox?
Thanks in advance! 
That’s because some of these addons that run on PC require something called WebAssembly (WASM) code to run. The problem is, at the moment, the Xbox version of MSFS is not compatible with running WASM. So that’s why these addons don’t work. There’s no point in making these addons available in XBOX, if they won’t run at all due to this missing crucial component from the platform itself.
I believe Asobo is working on getting this WASM to run on Xbox. Once it does, expect the addons that are currently PC exclusive be available in Xbox as well.
But then we need to take into account the licensing. Some freeware addons require a specific license from the platform to be accepted. If the Xbox/Marketplace requires the addons to be distributed under a certain license that the community disagree, then it won’t be available there.
It is on the Feedback Snapshot for SU10 release
@NeoKingRthur has given a pretty comprehensive answer.
However, there is also the issue of external executables that need to be run, say, in the case of some 3rd party aircraft. Since the Xbox is running a heavily locked down “walled garden” environment, this severely restricts external code being run outside the confines of the sim.
Another element is web connectivity. Some add-ons utilize connections to web services external to the sim (I believe some of the career add-ons, for instance) and, again, there will be restrictions there that come into play.
Of course, some add-on developers do not want to do business on the official Marketplace and, if that is the case, the add-on will not be available on Xbox for as simple a reason as that.
In case of freeware there is no incentive at all to release something on Xbox. It’s just more work with no benefit.
While on paper this may be true, however Snowrunner and Farming Simulator have a plethora of free mods on Xbox — all of which seem to suggest otherwise.
I don’t know how their mod system works and if freeware devs need to jump through the same amount of hoops like in MSFS.
WASM away Asobo! Yes, please, I would love to see the Just Flight Arrow III released in Xbox because my old gaming pc is quite old, probably better on Xbox at this time.
MS isn’t a fan of freeware though. They want commission out of the marketplace addons. I heard one developer wanted to list a freeware item on the marketplace, but MS told them that they need to make it payware and add a price.
Interesting. Given that Jörg is disappointed that FBW isn’t offering their A320 mod on the Marketplace (I’ve heard him mention this on a Q&A), that would suggest they aren’t adverse to freeware.
Naturally they want to monetize the sim’s ecosystem, but freeware brings attention. Attention brings interest, which drives sales of other products.
Dismissing freeware would be myopic.
can they make it to like $0.01 if they really require a price?
No, that’s because all addon contents that’s released in the marketplace has to be subject to a specific license (I forgot which license it was). But that license is not agreeable for the community of developers from FBW team. So, Just like when you install any piece of software, if you disagree with the license and terms and agreements, you can decline it, but that means you won’t be able to use it. And that was the reason why it was pulled out of the marketplace in the first place. Perhaps if they change the licensing of the addons placed on the marketplace that is agreeable, then it might make a comeback.
I think there may be a minimum…I thought it was around $4
There’s also the question of accountability because there’s distinct differences between a stall owner and a marketplace owner. A stall owner is legally responsible for the goods he sells while (within reason) his landlord is not. Without question MS are keen to avoid having to repair or replace every broken 3rd party mod and there’s a line that they cannot cross.
I wasn’t speakong to why it’s not in the Marketplace, but was indicating that Jörg (aka Microsoft) wasn’t against freeware if he was still wishing that FBW “sell” their add-on on the Marketplace. My point was to suggest that freeware isn’t against Microsoft’s ethos as suggested by another post.
Ethos is one thing but I think it’s all tied together. If producers of freeware don’t pay a commission to MS then in theory it muddies the waters of ownership.
Can concur. Tried to get a high quality freeware on Marketplace to complement one of my payware releases, but was rejected with the following statement:
The best you can do at the moment is list it for the minimum price of $4.99. However, they have a policy in place where anything released to Xbox has to be released on Marketplace for PC as well. Thus making it an ethical nightmare, because I have had Xbox users tell me they dont mind paying $4.99 for addons, but that also means I have to charge the same on PC for an addon that is already provided for free… (which I’m not going to do)
That statement doesn’t explicitly reject freeware for the sake of being freeware. It reads that they are currently working through a backlog and, I suppose, want to prioritize paid content, for now.
How long ago did you make the inquiry?
This I know. I’m not saying they wont in the future, only that they aren’t at present, and that was their reasoning for rejection. Which seems to vary depending on who you talk to.
That was about 2 months ago, I think? I followed up a few weeks ago though, and no change.
So many questions out there, does this add to the discussion, or a new topic? Not only the above thoughts, but what is it with steam gauges, some 3 letter name, that prevents the Just Flight Arrow III from coming to xbox? Im not a developer so dont understand the technical aspect of formatting software for xbox…?