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:

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), Santa Monica Studio (for PlayStation), and 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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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

• Third-party
• Second-party
• Third-party developer
• First-party cookie

The term helps clarify roles in both software development and compliance auditing:

• Quality management system
• Software developer
• Audit