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GDC: Microsoft Expresses New Agenda

Today at the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft's Chief of Home Entertainment and Xbox Vice-President J. Allard, announced Microsoft's plans for a groundbreaking new way for developers to create games for the PC and Xbox. Called XNA, this software suite allows for developers to create one software package for both the PC and Xbox, instead of two separate end-products. The software utilizes a hybrid of DirectX and Xbox APIs to allow for advanced lighting, sound, and graphics with less work for developers. Microsoft stresses that this new, quicker development system will allow developers to spend more time "...working with cutting edge hardware easier, allowing developers to focus on game design, not "nuts and bolts" boilerplate coding." Developers may continue to use the Xbox's previously established XDK for creating software if they wish, though this will likely come as a welcome surprise for many multiplatform developers.

This is an interesting move for Microsoft, and a significant departure from their previous mindset. Though the Xbox is largely agreed to be the most powerful console, Microsoft is launching a decidedly software-oriented approach to game development. Microsofts XNA FAQ, posted earlier today is quoted as follows: We believe fundamentally that SOFTWARE will define the next-generation. That's what XNA is all about. XNA is our next generation development platform that will drive games on a wide range of platforms." Later in the FAQ, Microsoft responds to Sony's plans for hardware-oriented "Cell" development for the Playstation 3: "In the next generation, software-not hardware-will drive the games industry forwardSony is talking about a fixed world of hardware that requires everyone to buy everything Sony. Sony's Cell is a hardware solution. This is a software revolution." Sony has not yet officially responded.

Nintendo fans take note: with the new XNA initiative, Microsoft seems to be joining forces ideologically with Satoru Iwata, who has stressed (to much criticism) in the past that future console races will hinge on creativity and innovation in software, rather than hardware prowess. It will be interesting to see what the future will bring for all companies.