This move will now allow for Indie developers to access the digital distribution found on the Xbox One without the need of a publishing partner. This is in stark contrast to current and former policies from Microsoft that actually drove many Indie developers away from the platform and on to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
The new policy will allow the developers to set their own release dates and pricing. While some developers will be pleased about this, it will undoubtedly be a matter of "too little, too late" for others out there.
In addition to this change on the self-publishing side of things, Microsoft is also reportedly revising their certification process. Microsoft is taking a page from Apple in that they will be targeting a 14-day turnaround for patch and update approvals. They will no longer carry out "extensive code checking" but will instead look for violations of the terms of service and for any significant bugs.