GDC: Microsoft unveils XNA, opens up Xbox Live

Microsoft has delivered a pre-release version of XNA Studio at the Game Developers Conference, also taking the opportunity to announce that Xbox Live is to be opened up to developers.

The event also saw the unveiling of the XNA Framework, which is designed to make life easier for developers working on multi-platform titles for the PC and Xbox 360.

Chris Satchell, general manager of Microsoft's Game Developer Group, said that XNA Studio will prove useful to a wide range of developers, regardless of the size of their company or project.

"Developers need a better way to make games and manage the production process. XNA Studio enables all developers - from major development studios to the two guys moonlighting on a dream project in their garage or dorm room - to create games in new, more efficient ways," Satchell said.

The preview version of XNA Studio includes what are described as "key components" of the system, such as a pre-release version of XNA Build, which is used for "orchestrating, debugging and optimising the game build pipeline," according to an official statement.

In an announcement regarding the opening up of the Xbox Live Server Platform, Microsoft stated: "Using this platform, developers can create their own back-end servers to run alongside Xbox Live."

The company hopes that the move will encourage more innovation in the field of online games, and provide more support for MMOGs. The tools required to create servers will be included in the new Xbox Development Kit, which is currently down for a release in May.