View source for Software:First-party

'''First-party''' refers to an entity directly involved in a transaction, agreement, or system—contrasted with third parties or external actors. It is commonly used in two core contexts:

== First-party developer ==
A first-party developer is a software or video game development studio that is owned by, or works directly for, the platform holder. Examples include Nintendo EPD (for Nintendo consoles), [[Company:Santa Monica Studio|Santa Monica Studio]] (for PlayStation), and [[Company:343 Industries|343 Industries]] (for Xbox).

These studios often benefit from close integration with platform hardware, early access to development tools, and financial or marketing support from the platform owner.<ref name="firstpartydev">Graft, Kris (2013). "First-party vs. third-party developers: What's the difference?" ''Gamasutra''. Retrieved June 8, 2025.</ref>

== First-party audit ==
A first-party audit is an internal evaluation conducted by an organization on itself, or on its internal systems and suppliers. This type of audit is typically performed to ensure compliance with internal procedures and quality standards.<ref name="isoaudit">ISO (2023). "The ISO 9000 family: Quality management systems." ''International Organization for Standardization''. Retrieved June 8, 2025.</ref>

First-party audits are distinct from:
* Second-party audits: Conducted by a customer on a supplier
* Third-party audits: Conducted by independent organizations for certifications such as [[ISO 9001]]

== Related terms ==
* Third-party
* Second-party
* Third-party developer
* First-party cookie

== Importance ==
The term helps clarify roles in both software development and compliance auditing:
{| class="wikitable"
! Context !! Role of First-Party
|-
| Game development || Platform-exclusive titles; better integration and control.
|-
| Auditing || Internal compliance and system validation.
|}

== See also ==
* [[Quality management system]]
* [[Software developer]]
* [[Audit]]

== References ==
<references/>



[[Category:Video game terminology]]

{{Sourceattribution|First-party}}