Your Game. Any Screen.

Y
X B
A

Microsoft Game Development Guide

September 2017 Edition

Microsoft Azure Windows Mixed Reality

Table of contents
Introduction to game development for
the Universal Windows Platform (UWP)
3

Game development resources 4

Concept and planning 10

Prototype and design 21

Production 29

Submitting and publishing your game 33

Game lifecycle management 35

Adding Xbox Live to your game 37

Additional resources 40

Dream.Build.Play 41
 Welcome to the Windows 10 Game Development Guide!

This guide provides an end-to-end collection of the resources and information

you’ll need to develop a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) game.

Introduction to game development for

the Universal Windows Platform (UWP)

When you create a Windows 10 game, you have the opportunity to reach millions of players worldwide across
phone, PC, and Xbox One. With Xbox on Windows, Xbox Live, cross-device multiplayer, an amazing gaming
community, and powerful new features like the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and DirectX 12, Windows 10
games thrill players of all ages and genres. The new Universal Windows Platform (UWP) delivers compatibility
for your game across Windows 10 devices with a common API for phone, PC, and Xbox One, along with tools
and options to tailor your game to each device experience.

This guide provides an end-to-end collection of information and resources that will help you as you develop
your game. The sections are organized according to the stages of game development, so you’ll know where to
look for information when you need it.

To get started, the Game development resources section provides a high-level survey of documentation,
programs, and other resources that are helpful when creating a game.

This guide will be updated as additional Windows 10 game development resources and material
become available.

To get the latest version of this guide, visit aka.ms/uwpgamedevguide

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Intro to game development for the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) 3
 Game development resources

From documentation to developer programs, forums, blogs, and samples, there are many resources available
to help you on your game development journey. Here’s a roundup of resources to know about as you begin
developing your Windows 10 game.

Some features are managed through various programs. This guide covers a broad range of
resources, so you may find that some resources are inaccessible depending on the program
you are in or your specific development role. Examples are links that resolve to developer,
xboxlive.com, forums.xboxlive.com, xdi.xboxlive.com, or the Game Developer Network
(GDN). For information about partnering with Microsoft, see Developer Programs.

Game development documentation

Throughout this guide, you’ll find deep links to relevant documentation—organized by task, technology, and
stage of game development. To give you a broad view of what’s available, here are the main documentation
portals for Windows 10 game development.

Windows Dev Center

Windows Dev Center main portal
aka.ms/windows-dev-center

Develop Windows apps

Developing Windows apps
aka.ms/dev-windows-app

How-to guides for Windows 10 apps

Universal Windows Platform app development
aka.ms/how-to-guides-for-windows-10-apps

Games and DirectX

How-to guides for UWP games
aka.ms/games-and-direct-x

DirectX Graphics and Gaming

DirectX reference and overviews
aka.ms/direct-x-graphics-and-gaming

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game development resources 4

 Build and scale your games using Azure
Azure for gaming
aka.ms/build-and-scale-your-games-using-azure

Building UWP apps on Xbox One

UWP on Xbox One
aka.ms/building-uwp-apps-on-xbox-one

Building UWP apps on HoloLens

UWP on HoloLens
aka.ms/building-uwp-apps-on-holo-lens

Xbox Live SDK

Xbox Live documentation
aka.ms/Mixer-interactive-documentation

Xbox One XDK documentation

Xbox One developer documentation (GDN)
aka.ms/xbox-one-xdk-documentation

White Papers
Xbox One developer whitepapers (GDN)
aka.ms/white-papers

Add interactivity to your game

Mixer Interactive documentation
aka.ms/mixer-interactive-documentation

Windows Dev Center

Registering a developer account on the Windows Dev Center is the first step towards publishing your Windows
game. A developer account lets you reserve your game’s name and submit free or paid games to the Windows
Store for all Windows devices. Use your developer account to manage your game and in-game products, get
detailed analytics, and enable services that create great experiences for your players around the world.

Microsoft also offers several developer programs to help you develop and publish Windows games. We
recommend seeing if any are right for you before registering for a Dev Center account. For more info, go to
Developer programs.

Ready to sign up?

Register a developer account
aka.ms/ready-ro-sign-up

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game development resources 5

Developer programs
Microsoft offers several developer programs to help you develop and publish Windows games. Consider
joining a developer program if you want to develop games for Xbox One and integrate Xbox Live features
in your game. To publish a game in the Windows Store, you’ll also need to create a developer account on
Windows Dev Center.

Xbox Live Creators Program

The Xbox Live Creators Program allows anyone to integrate Xbox Live into their title and publish to Xbox One
and Windows 10. There is a simplified certification process and no concept approval is required outside of the
standard Windows Store Policies (aka.ms/Windows-store-policies).

You can deploy, design, and publish your game in the Creators Program without a dedicated dev kit, using only
retail hardware. To get started, download the Dev Mode Activation app (aka.ms/dev-mode-activation-app) on
your Xbox One.

If you want access to even more Xbox Live capabilities, dedicated marketing and development support, and the
chance to be featured in the main Xbox One store, apply to the ID@Xbox (aka.ms/ID-atxbox) program.

Learn more about the Xbox Live Creators Program

Xbox Live Creators Program
aka.ms/Xbox-live-dev-creators-program

ID@Xbox
The ID@Xbox program helps qualified game developers self-publish on Windows and Xbox One. If you want
to develop for Xbox One, or add Xbox Live features like Gamerscore, achievements, and leaderboards to your
Windows 10 game, sign up with ID@Xbox. Become an ID@Xbox developer to get the tools and support you
need to unleash your creativity and maximize your success. We recommend that you apply to ID@Xbox first
before registering for a developer account on Windows Dev Center.

Independent Developer Program for Xbox One

ID@Xbox developer program
aka.ms/independent-developer-program

ID@Xbox
ID@Xbox consumer site
aka.ms/id-xbox

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game development resources 6

Xbox tools and middleware
The Xbox Tools and Middleware Program licenses Xbox development kits to professional developers of
game tools and middleware. Developers accepted into the program can share and distribute their Xbox XDK
technologies to other licensed Xbox developers.

Contact the tools and middleware program xboxtlsm@microsoft.

Game samples
There are many Windows 10 game and app samples available to help you understand Windows 10 gaming
features and get a quick start on game development. More samples are developed and published regularly,
so don’t forget to occasionally check back at sample portals to see what’s new. You can also watch GitHub
repos (aka.ms/github-watch) to be notified of changes and additions.

Windows-universal-samples
Universal Windows Platform app samples
aka.ms/windows-universal-samples

DirectX-Graphics-Samples
Direct3D 12 graphics samples
aka.ms/directx-graphics-samples

Directx-sdk-samples
Direct3D 11 graphics samples
aka.ms/directx-sdk-samples

Create a simple UWP game with DirectX

Direct3D 11 first-person game sample
aka.ms/create-a-simple-uwp-game-with-directx

D2DCustomEffects
Direct2D custom image effects sample
aka.ms/d2d-custom-effects

D2DGradientMesh
Direct2D gradient mesh sample
aka.ms/d2d-gradient-mesh

D2DPhotoAdjustment
Direct2D photo adjustment sample
aka.ms/d2d-photo-adjustment

Xbox Advanced Technology Group public Xbox-ATG-Samples

samples aka.ms/xbox-atg-samples

Xbox Live Samples

Xbox Live samples
aka.ms/XboxLive-Samples

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game development resources 7

 Samples
Xbox One game samples (GDN)
aka.ms/xbox-one-game-samples

Windows Store game samples

Windows game samples (MSDN Code Gallery)
aka.ms/windows-store-game-samples

JavaScript and HTML5 touch game sample

JavaScript and HTML5 game sample
aka.ms/javascript-and-html5-touch-game-sample

Developer forums
Developer forums are a great place to ask and answer game development questions and connect with the
game development community. Forums can also be fantastic resources for finding existing answers to difficult
issues that developers have faced and solved in the past.

Windows store and apps forums

Windows apps developer forums
aka.ms/windows-store-and-apps-forums

Developing Universal Windows Platform apps

UWP apps developer forum
aka.ms/developing-universal-windows-platform-apps

Windows desktop applications forums

Desktop applications developer forums
aka.ms/windows-desktop-applications-forums

Building Windows Store games with DirectX

DirectX Windows Store games (archived forum
(archived)
posts)
aka.ms/building-windows-store-games-with-directx

XBOX Developer Forums: Windows 10

Windows 10 managed partner developer forums
aka.ms/xbox-developer-forums-windows-10

DirectX 12 forum
DirectX forums
aka.ms/directx-12-forum

Azure forum
Azure platform forums
aka.ms/Azure-Platform-Forums

Xbox Live development forum

Xbox live forum
aka.ms/XboxLive-Forum

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game development resources 8

Developer blogs
Developer blogs are another great resource for the latest information about game development. You’ll find
posts about new features, implementation details, best practices, architecture background, and more.

Building Apps for Windows

Building apps for Windows blog
aka.ms/building-apps-for-windows-blog

Posts in Windows 10
Windows 10 (blog posts)
aka.ms/posts-in-windows-10

The Visual Studio Blog

Visual Studio engineering team blog
aka.ms/the-visual-studio-blog

Developer Tools Blogs

Visual Studio developer tools blogs
aka.ms/developer-tools-blogs

Somasegar’s blog
Somasegar’s developer tools blog
aka.ms/Somasegars-dev-tools-blog

DirectX Developer Blog

DirectX developer blog
aka.ms/directx-developer-blog

DirectX 12
DirectX 12 introduction (blog post)
aka.ms/direct-x-12

Visual C++ team Blog

Visual C++ tools team blog
aka.ms/visual-c-team-blog

Performance tuning and debugging for games

PIX team blog on Windows and Xbox
https://aka.ms/PIX-team-blog

Build and deploy UWP apps team blog

Universal Windows App Deployment team blog
aka.ms/Universal-Windows-app-deployment-team-blog

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game development resources 9

 Concept and planning

In the concept and planning stage, you’re deciding what your game is going to be like and the technologies
and tools you’ll use to bring it to life.

Overview of game development technologies

When you start developing a game for the UWP, you have multiple options available for graphics, input, audio,
networking, utilities, and libraries.

If you’ve already decided on all the technologies you’ll be using in your game, great! If not, the Game
technologies for UWP apps guide (aka.ms/game-tech-for-uwp-apps-guide) is an excellent overview of many of
the technologies available, and is highly recommended reading to help you understand the options and how
they fit together.

Game technologies for UWP apps

Survey of UWP game technologies
aka.ms/survey-of-uwp-game-technologies

These three GDC 2015 videos give a good overview of Windows 10 game development and the Windows 10
gaming experience.

Overview of Windows 10 game development Developing Games for Windows 10

(video) aka.ms/developing-games-for-windows-10

Gaming Consumer Experience on Windows 10

Windows 10 gaming experience (video)
aka.ms/gaming-consumer-experience-on-windows-10

The Future of Gaming Across the Microsoft

Gaming across the Microsoft ecosystem (video) Ecosystem
aka.ms/the-future-of-gaming-across-the-microsoft

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 10

Game planning
These are some high-level concept and planning topics to consider when planning for your game.

Accessibility for games

Make your game accessible
aka.ms/accessibility-for-games

Cloud for games

Build games using cloud
aka.ms/cloud-for-games

Monetization for games

Monetize your game
aka.ms/monetization-for-games

Choosing your graphics technology and programming language

There are several programming languages and graphics technologies available for use in Windows 10 games.
The path you take depends on the type of game you’re developing, the experience and preferences of your
development studio, and specific feature requirements of your game. Will you use C#, C++, or JavaScript
DirectX, XAML, or HTML5?

DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is the choice to make for the highest-performance 2D and 3D graphics and multimedia.

Direct3D 12, new in Windows 10, brings the power of a console-like API and is faster and more efficient than
ever before. Your game can fully utilize modern graphics hardware and feature more objects, richer scenes, and
enhanced effects. Direct3D 12 delivers optimized graphics on Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One. If you want to
use the familiar graphics pipeline of Direct3D 11, you’ll still benefit from the new rendering and optimization
features added to Direct3D 11.3. And, if you’re a tried-and-true desktop Windows API developer with roots in
Win32, you’ll still have that option in Windows 10.

The extensive features and deep platform integration of DirectX provide the power and performance
needed by the most demanding games.

Games and DirectX

How-to guides for DirectX games
aka.ms/games-and-directx

DirectX Graphics and Gaming

DirectX overviews and reference
aka.ms/directx-graphics-and-gaming

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 11

 Direct3D 12 Graphics
Direct3D 12 programming guide and reference
aka.ms/direct3d-12-graphics

Graphics and DirectX 12 development videos Microsoft DirectX 12 and Graphics Education
(YouTube channel) aka.ms/microsoft-directx-12-and-graphics-education

XAML
XAML is an easy-to-use declarative UI language with convenient features like animations, storyboards, data
binding, scalable vector-based graphics, dynamic resizing, and scene graphs. XAML works great for game UI,
menus, sprites, and 2D graphics. To make UI layout easy, XAML is compatible with design and development
tools like Expression Blend and Microsoft Visual Studio. XAML is commonly used with C#, but C++ is also a
good choice if that’s your preferred language or if your game has high CPU demands.

XAML platform
XAML platform overview
aka.ms/xaml-platform

Controls, layouts, and text

XAML UI and controls
aka.ms/controls-layouts-text

HTML 5
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a common UI markup language used for web pages, apps, and rich
clients. Windows games can use HTML5 as a full-featured presentation layer with the familiar features of
HTML, access to the Universal Windows Platform, and support for modern web features like AppCache, Web
Workers, canvas, drag-and-drop, asynchronous programming, and SVG. Behind the scenes, HTML rendering
takes advantage of the power of DirectX hardware acceleration, so you can still get the performance benefits
of DirectX without writing any extra code. HTML5 is a good choice if you are proficient with web development,
porting a web game, or want to use language and graphics layers that can be easier to approach than the other
choices. HTML5 is used with JavaScript, but can also call into components created with C# or C++/CX.

HTML and DOM reference

HTML5 and Document Object Model information
aka.ms/html-and-dom-reference

HTML5
The HTML5 W3C Recommendation
aka.ms/html-5

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 12

Combining presentation technologies
The Microsoft DirectX Graphics Infrastructure (DXGI) provides interop and compatibility across multiple
graphics technologies. For high-performance graphics, you can combine XAML and DirectX, using XAML
for menus and other simple UI, and DirectX for rendering complex 2D and 3D scenes. DXGI also provides
compatibility between Direct2D, Direct3D, DirectWrite, DirectCompute, and the Microsoft Media Foundation.

DirectX Graphics Infrastructure programming DXGI

guide and reference aka.ms/dxgi

DirectX and XAML interop

Combining DirectX and XAML
aka.ms/directx-and-xaml-interop

C++
C++/CX is a high-performance, low-overhead language that provides the powerful combination of speed,
compatibility, and platform access. C++/CX makes it easy to use all of the great gaming features in Windows
10, including DirectX and Xbox Live. You can also reuse existing C++ code and libraries. C++/CX creates fast,
native code that doesn’t incur the overhead of garbage collection, so your game can have great performance
and low power consumption, which leads to longer battery life. Use C++/CX with DirectX or XAML, or create a
game that uses a combination of both.

Visual C++ Language Reference (C++/CX)

C++/CX reference and overviews
aka.ms/visual-c-language-reference

Visual C++ in Visual Studio 2015

Visual C++ programming guide and reference
aka.ms/visual-c-visual-studio-2015

C#
C# (pronounced “C sharp”) is a modern, innovative language that is simple, powerful, type-safe, and object-
oriented. C# enables rapid development while retaining the familiarity and expressiveness of C-style languages.
Though easy to use, C# has numerous advanced language features like polymorphism, delegates, lambdas,
closures, iterator methods, covariance, and Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) expressions. C# is an excellent
choice if you are targeting XAML, want to get a quick start developing your game, or have previous C#
experience. C# is used primarily with XAML, so if you want to use DirectX, choose C++ instead, or write part of
your game as a C++ component that interacts with DirectX. Or, consider Win2D (aka.ms/win2d), an immediate-
mode Direct2D graphics libary for C# and C++.

C# language reference
C# programming guide and reference
aka.ms/c-language-reference

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 13

JavaScript

JavaScript is a dynamic scripting language widely used for modern web and rich client applications.

Windows JavaScript apps can access the powerful features of the Universal Windows Platform in an easy,
intuitive way—as methods and properties of object-oriented JavaScript classes. JavaScript is a good choice for
your game if you’re coming from a web development environment, are already familiar with JavaScript, or want
to use HTML5, CSS, WinJS, or JavaScript libraries. If you’re targeting DirectX or XAML, choose C# or C++/CX
instead.

JavaScript reference
JavaScript and Windows Runtime reference
aka.ms/javascript-reference

Use Windows Runtime Components to combine languages

With the Universal Windows Platform, it’s easy to combine components written in different languages. Create
Windows Runtime Components in C++, C#, or Visual Basic, and then call into them from JavaScript, C#,
C++, or Visual Basic. This is a great way to program portions of your game in the language of your choice.
Components also let you consume external libraries that are only available in a particular language, as well as
use legacy code you’ve already written.

Creating Windows Runtime Components

How to create Windows Runtime Components
aka.ms/How-to-create-Windows-runtime-components

Which version of DirectX should your game use?

If you are choosing DirectX for your game, you’ll need to decide which version to use:
Microsoft Direct3D 12 or Microsoft Direct3D 11.

Direct3D 12, new in Windows 10, brings the power of a console-like API and is faster and more efficient than
ever before. Your game can fully utilize modern graphics hardware and feature more objects, richer scenes, and
enhanced effects. Direct3D 12 delivers optimized graphics on Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One. Since Direct3D
12 works at a very low level, it is able to give an expert graphics development team or an experienced DirectX
11 development team all the control they need to maximize graphics optimization.

Direct3D 11.3 is a low-level graphics API that uses the familiar Direct3D programming model and handles more
of the complexity involved in GPU rendering for you. It is also supported in Windows 10 and Xbox One. If you
have an existing engine written in Direct3D 11, and you’re not quite ready to make the jump to Direct3D 12,
you can use Direct3D 11 on 12 to achieve some performance improvements. Versions 11.3+ contain the new
rendering and optimization features that are also enabled in Direct3D 12.

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 14

 What is Direct3D 12?
Choosing Direct3D 12 or Direct3D 11
aka.ms/what-is-direct3d-12

Direct3D 11 Graphics
Overview of Direct3D 11
aka.ms/direct3d-11-graphics

Direct3D 11 on 12
Overview of Direct3D 11 on 12
aka.ms/direct3d-11-on-12

Bridges, game engines, and middleware

Depending on the needs of your game, using bridges, game engines, or middleware can save development and
testing time and resources. Here are some overview and resources for bridges, game engines, and middleware
to help you decide if any are right for you.

Accelerating Windows Store Game Development

Game Development with Middleware (video) with Middleware
aka.ms/accelerating-windows-store-game-development

Game Development Middleware - What is it? Do

Introduction to game middleware (blog post) I need it?
aka.ms/Intro-game-middleware

Universal Windows Platform Bridges

Universal Windows Platform Bridges are technologies that bring your existing app or game over to the UWP.
Bridges are a great way to get a quick start on UWP game development.

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 15

 Bring your code to Windows
UWP bridges
aka.ms/uwpgdg_bring-your-code-to-windows

Bring your iOS apps to Windows

Windows Bridge for iOS
aka.ms/Windows-Bridge-IOS

Windows Bridge for desktop applications Convert your desktop application to a UWP app
(.NET and Win32) aka.ms/uwpgdg_convert-your-desktop-application

Unity
Unity offers a platform for creating beautiful and engaging 2D, 3D, VR, and AR games and apps. It enables you
to realize your creative vision fast and delivers your content to virtually any media or device.

Beginning with Unity 5.4, Unity supports Direct3D 12 development.

Unity - Game Engine

The Unity game engine
aka.ms/uwpgdg_unity-game-engine

Get Unity
Get Unity
aka.ms/uwpgdg_get-unity

Universal Windows Platform app support in Windows 10 Universal Platform apps in Unity 5.2
Unity 5.2 or later (blog post) aka.ms/uwpgdg_windows-10-universal-platform-apps

Unity Manual/Windows
Unity documentation for Windows
aka.ms/uwpgdg_unity-manual-windows

How to add interactivity to your game using Getting started guide

Mixer Interactive aka.ms/How-to-interactivity-game-MixerInteractive

Mixer Unity plugin

Mixer SDK for Unity
aka.ms/Mixer-SDK-for-Unity

API reference for Mixer Unity plugin

Mixer SDK for Unity reference documentation
aka.ms/Mixer-SDK-Unity-ref-documentation

Porting guide
Publish your Unity game to Windows Store
aka.ms/uwpgdg_porting-guide

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 16

 Publish your Unity game as a Universal Windows How to publish your Unity game as a UWP app
Platform app (video) aka.ms/uwpgdg_how-to-publish-your-unity-game-as-uwp

Use Unity to make Windows games and apps Making Windows games and apps with Unity
(video) aka.ms/uwpgdg_making-windows-games-and-apps-with-unity

Unity game development using Visual Studio Using Unity with Visual Studio 2015
(video series) aka.ms/uwpgdg_using-unity-with-visual-studio

Havok
Havok’s modular suite of tools and technologies helps game creators reach new levels of interactivity and
immersion. Havok enables highly realistic physics, interactive simulations, and stunning cinematics. Version
2015.1 and higher officially support UWP in Visual Studio 2015 on x86, 64-bit, and ARM.

Havok
Havok website
aka.ms/uwpgdg_havok

Havok Product Overview

Havok tool suite
aka.ms/uwpgdg_havok-product-overview

Havok
Havok support forums
aka.ms/uwpgdg_havok-support

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 17

MonoGame
MonoGame is an open source, cross-platform game development framework originally based on Microsoft’s
XNA Framework 4.0. Monogame currently supports Windows, Windows Phone, and Xbox, as well as Linux,
macOS, iOS, Android, and several other platforms.

MonoGame website
MonoGame
aka.ms/uwpgdg_monogame-website

MonoGame Documentation (latest)

MonoGame Documentation
aka.ms/uwpgdg_monogame-documentation

Download releases, development builds, and

source code from the MonoGame website, or
Monogame Downloads get the latest release via NuGet.
aka.ms/uwpgdg_download-releases-development-builds
aka.ms/uwpgdg_get-the-latest-release-via-nuget

Cocos2d
Cocos2d-X is a cross-platform open source game development engine and tools suite that supports building
UWP games. Beginning with version 3, 3D features are being added as well.

What is Cocos2d-X?
Cocos2d-x
aka.ms/uwpgdg_what-is-cocos2d-x

Cocos2d-x Programmers Guide v3.12

Cocos2d-x programmer's guide
aka.ms/uwpgdg_cocos2d-x-programmers-guide-v3.12

Running Cocos2d-x on Windows 10

Cocos2d-x on Windows 10 (blog post)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_running-cocos2d-x-on-windows-10

Build a Game with Cocos2d-x for

Cocos2d-x Windows Store games (video) Windows Devices
aka.ms/Cocos2d-x-Windows-store-games

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 18

Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine 4 is a complete suite of game development tools for all types of games and developers. For the
most demanding console and PC games, Unreal Engine is used by game developers worldwide.

Unreal Engine 4
Unreal Engine overview
aka.ms/uwpgdg_unreal-engine-4

BabylonJS
BabylonJS is a complete JavaScript framework for building 3D games with HTML5, WebGL, and Web Audio.

BabylonJS
BabylonJS
aka.ms/uwpgdg_babylonjs

WebGL 3D with HTML5 and BabylonJS Learning WebGL 3D and BabylonJS

(video series) aka.ms/uwpgdg_learning-webgl-3d-and-babylonjs

Building a cross-platform WebGL game Use BabylonJS to develop a cross-platform game

with BabylonJS aka.ms/uwpgdg_use-babylonjs-to-develop-cross-platform

Middleware and partners

There are many other middleware and engine partners that can provide solutions, depending on your game
development needs.

Dev Center Partners

Windows Dev Center partners
aka.ms/uwpgdg_dev-center-partners

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 19

Porting your game
If you have an existing game, there are many resources and guides available to help you quickly bring your
game to the UWP. To jump-start your porting efforts, you might also consider using a Universal Windows
Platform Bridge (aka.ms/uwpgdg_universal-windows-platform-bridge).

Porting a Windows 8 app to a Universal Move from Windows Runtime 8.x to UWP
Windows Platform app aka.ms/uwpgdg_move-from-windows-runtime-8.x-to-uwp

Porting a Windows 8 app to a Universal Porting 8.1 Apps to Windows 10

Windows Platform app (video) aka.ms/uwpgdg_porting-8.1-apps-to-windows-10

Porting an iOS app to a Universal Windows Move from iOS to UWP

Platform app aka.ms/uwpgdg_move-from-ios-to-uwp

Porting a Silverlight app to a Universal Windows Move from Windows Phone Silverlight to UWP
Platform app aka.ms/uwpgdg_move-from-windows-phone-silverlight-to-uwp

Porting an App from XAML or Silverlight to

Porting from XAML or Silverlight to a Universal
Windows 10
Windows Platform app (video)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_porting-an-app-from-xaml-or-silverlight

Porting an Xbox game to a Universal Windows Porting from Xbox One to Windows 10 UWP
Platform app aka.ms/uwpgdg_porting-from-xbox-one-to-windows-10-uwp

Port from DirectX 9 to Universal Windows

Porting from DirectX 9 to DirectX 11 Platform (UWP)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_port-from-directx-to-uwp

Porting from Direct3D 11 to Direct3D 12

Porting from Direct3D 11 to Direct3D 12
aka.ms/uwpgdg_port-from-direct3d-11-to-direct3d-12

Port from OpenGL ES 2.0 to Direct3D 11

Porting from OpenGL ES to Direct3D 11
aka.ms/uwpgdg_port-from-opengl-es-2.0

ANGLE
OpenGL ES to Direct3D 11 using ANGLE
aka.ms/uwpgdg_angle

Alternatives to Windows APIs in Universal

Classic Windows API equivalents in the UWP Windows Platform (UWP) apps
aka.ms/uwpgdg_alternatives-to-windows-apis-in-uwp-apps

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Concept and planning 20

 Prototype and design

Now that you’ve decided the type of game you want to create and the tools and graphics technology you’ll
use to build it, you’re ready to get started with the design and prototype. At its core, your game is a Universal
Windows Platform app, so that’s where you’ll begin.

Introduction to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP)

Windows 10 introduces the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), which provides a common API platform across
Windows 10 devices. UWP evolves and expands the Windows Runtime model and hones it into a cohesive,
unified core. Games that target the UWP can call WinRT APIs that are common to all devices. Because the UWP
provides a guaranteed core API layer, you can choose to create a single app package that will install across
Windows 10 devices. And if you want to, your game can still call APIs (including some classic Windows APIs
from Win32 and .NET) that are specific to the devices your game runs on.

The goal of the UWP is to have:

• One core operating system

• One application platform

• One gaming social network

• One store

• One ingestion path

The following are excellent guides that discuss the Universal Windows Platform apps in detail, and are
recommended reading to help you understand the platform.

What’s a Universal Windows Platform app?

Introduction to Universal Windows Platform apps
aka.ms/uwpgdg_whats-a-universal-windows-platform-app

Guide to UWP apps

Overview of the UWP
aka.ms/uwpgdg_guide-to-uwp-apps

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 21

Getting started with UWP development
Getting set up and ready to develop a Universal Windows Platform app is quick and easy. The following guides
take you through the process step-by-step.

Get started with Windows apps

Getting started with UWP development
aka.ms/uwpgdg_get-started-windows-apps

Get set up
Getting set up for UWP development
aka.ms/uwpgdg_get-set-up

If you’re an “absolute beginner” to UWP programming, and are considering using XAML in your game (see
Choosing your graphics technology and programming language (aka.ms/uwpgdg_choosing-your-graphics)),
the Windows 10 development for absolute beginners (aka.ms/uwpgdg_win10-dev-beginners) video series
is a good place to start.

Windows 10 development for

Beginners guide to Windows 10 development
absolute beginners
with XAML (Video series)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_win10-dev-beginners-vid

Windows 10 development for

Announcing the Windows 10 absolute beginners
absolute beginners
series using XAML (blog post)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_win10-dev-beginners-blog

UWP development concepts

Overview of Universal Windows Platform Develop Windows apps

app development aka.ms/uwpgdg_develop-windows-apps

Networking and web services

Overview of network programming in the UWP
aka.ms/uwpgdg_networking-and-web-services

Using Windows.Web.HTTP and Windows. Networking for games

Networking.Sockets in games aka.ms/Use-Win-WebHTTP-Win-NetworkingSockets-games

Asynchronous programming concepts Asynchronous programming

in the UWP aka.ms/uwpgdg_asynchronous-programming

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 22

Windows Desktop APIs to UWP
These are some links to help you move your Windows desktop game to UWP.

Use existing C++ code for UWP game How to: Use existing C++ code in a UWP app
development aka.ms/Use-existing-Cplusplus-UWP-game-dev

Win32 and COM APIs for UWP apps

UWP APIs for Win32 and COM APIs
aka.ms/uwpgdg_win32-com-apis

CRT functions not supported in Universal

Unsupported CRT functions in UWP Windows Platform apps
aka.ms/uwpgdg_crt-functions-not-supported-uwp

Alternatives to Windows APIs in Universal

Alternatives for Windows APIs Windows Platform (UWP) apps
aka.ms/uwpgdg_alternatives-windows-apis-uwp

Process lifetime management

Process lifetime management, or app lifecyle, describes the various activation states that a Universal Windows
Platform app can transition through. Your game can be activated, suspended, resumed, or terminated, and can
transition through those states in a variety of ways.

App lifecycle
Handling app lifecyle transitions
aka.ms/uwpgdg_app-lifecycle

How to trigger suspend, resume, and

Using Microsoft Visual Studio to trigger background events for Windows Store apps in
app transitions Visual Studio
aka.ms/uwpgdg_how-to-trigger-suspend-resume

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 23

Designing game UX
The genesis of a great game is inspired design.

Games share some common user interface elements and design principles with apps, but games often have a
unique look, feel, and design goal for their user experience. Games succeed when thoughtful design is applied
to both aspects—when should your game use tested UX, and when should it diverge and innovate? The
presentation technology that you choose for your game—DirectX, XAML, HTML5, or some combination of the
three—will influence implementation details, but the design principles you apply are largely independent of
that choice.

Separately from UX design, gameplay design such as level design, pacing, world design, and other aspects is an
art form of its own—one that’s up to you and your team, and not covered in this development guide.

Designing UWP apps

UWP design basics and guidelines
aka.ms/uwpgdg_designing-uwp-apps

UX guidelines for launch, suspend, and resume

Designing for app lifecycle states
aka.ms/uwpgdg_ux-guidelines-for-launch-suspend-resume

Design your UWP app for Xbox One and Designing for Xbox and TV
television screens aka.ms/Design-UWP-app-xbox1-tvscreens

Designing Games for a Windows Core World

Targeting multiple device form factors (video)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_designing-games-for-a-wcw

Color guideline and palette

Following a consistent color guideline in your game improves aesthetics, aids navigation, and is a powerful
tool to inform the player of menu and HUD functionality. Consistent coloring of game elements like warnings,
damage, XP, and achievements can lead to cleaner UI and reduce the need for explicit labels.

Best Practices: Color

Color guide
aka.ms/uwpgdg_best-practices-color

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 24

Typography
The appropriate use of typography enhances many aspects of your game, including UI layout, navigation,
readability, atmosphere, brand, and player immersion.

Best Practices: Typography

Typography guide
aka.ms/uwpgdg_best-practices-typography

UI map
A UI map is a layout of game navigation and menus expressed as a flowchart. The UI map helps all involved
stakeholders understand the game’s interface and navigation paths, and can expose potential roadblocks and
dead ends early in the development cycle.

Best Practices: UI Map

UI map guide
aka.ms/uwpgdg_best-practices-ui-map

Game Audio
Guides and references for implementing audio in games using XAudio2, XAPO, and Windows Sonic. XAudio2 is
a low-level audio API that provides signal processing and mixing foundation for developing high performance
audio engines. XAPO API allows the creation of cross-platform audio processing objects (XAPO) for use in
XAudio2 on both Windows and Xbox. Windows Sonic audio support allows you to add Dolby Atmos for
Home Theater, Dolby Atmos for Headphones, and Windows HRTF support to your game or
streaming media application.

Programming guide and API reference

XAudio2 APIs for XAudio2
aka.ms/XAudio2-APIs

XAPO Overview
Create cross-platform audio processing objects
aka.ms/Creat-crossplatform-audio-processing-objects

Audio for games

Intro to audio concepts
aka.ms/Intro-audio-concepts

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 25

 Spatial sound
Windows Sonic overview
aka.ms/Windows-sonic-overview

Xbox Advanced Technology Group

Windows Sonic spatial sound samples audio samples
aka.ms/Windows-sonic-spatial-sound-samples

Introducing Spatial Audio Capabilities for

Learn how to integrate Windows Sonic into your
Xbox and Windows
games (video)
aka.ms/Learn-to-integrate-WinSonic-into-games

DirectX development
Guides and references for DirectX game development.

Games and DirectX

DirectX game development on the UWP
aka.ms/uwpgdg_games-and-directx

The app object and DirectX

DirectX interaction with the UWP app model
aka.ms/uwpgdg_app-object-and-directx

Graphics and DirectX 12 development videos Microsoft DirectX 12 and Graphics Education
(YouTube channel) aka.ms/uwpgdg_microsoft-directx-12-and-graphics-education

DirectX Graphics and Gaming

DirectX overviews and reference
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directx-graphics-and-gaming

Direct3D 12 Graphics
Direct3D 12 programming guide and reference
aka.ms/uwpgdg_direct3d-12-graphics

Better Power, Better Performance: Your Game on

DirectX 12 fundamentals (video) DirectX 12
aka.ms/uwpgdg_better-power-better-performance

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 26

Learning Direct3D 12
Learn what changed in Direct3D 12 and how to start programming using Direct3D 12.

Direct3D 12 programming environment setup

Set up programming environment
aka.ms/uwpgdg_direct3d-12-programming-environment-setup

Creating a basic Direct3D 12 component

How to create a basic component
aka.ms/uwpgdg_creating-a-basic-direct3d-12-component

Important changes migrating from Direct3D 11

Changes in Direct3D 12 to Direct3D 12
aka.ms/uwpgdg_important-changes-migrating

Porting from Direct3D 11 to Direct3D 12

How to port from Direct3D 11 to Direct3D 12
aka.ms/uwpgdg_porting-from-direct3d-11

Resource-binding concepts (covering descriptor,

Resource binding in Direct3D 12
descriptor table, descriptor heap, and root
aka.ms/uwpgdg_resource-binding-in-direct3d-12
signature)

Memory management in Direct3D 12

Managing memory
aka.ms/Managing-memory

DirectX Tool Kit and libraries

The DirectX Tool Kit, DirectX texture-processing library, DirectXMesh geometry-processing library, UVAtlas
library, and DirectXMath library provide texture, mesh, sprite, and other utility functionality and helper classes
for DirectX development. These libraries can help you save development time and effort.

DirectXTK
Get DirectX Tool Kit for DirectX 11
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directxtk

DirectXTK 12
Get DirectX Tool Kit for DirectX 12
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directxtk-12

DirectXTex
Get DirectX texture-processing library
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directxtex

DirectXMesh
Get DirectXMesh geometry-processing library
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directxmesh

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 27

 Get UVAtlas for creating and packing isochart UVAtlas
texture atlas aka.ms/uwpgdg_uvatlas

DirectXMath
Get the DirectXMath library
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directxmath

Support for DirectX 12

Direct3D 12 support in the DirectXTK (blog post)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_support-for-directx-12

DirectX resources from partners

These are some additional DirectX documentation created by external partners.

DirectX 12 on Nvidia GPUs

Nvidia: DX12 Do's and Don'ts (blog post)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directx-12-on-nvidia-gpus

DirectX 12 rendering on Intel Graphics

Intel: Efficient rendering with DirectX 12
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directx-12-rendering-on-intel-graphics

How to implement an explicit multi-adapter

Intel: Multi-adapter support in DirectX 12 application using DirectX 12
aka.ms/uwpgdg_how-to-implement-explicit-multi-adapter

Collaborative white paper by Intel, Suzhou Snail,

Intel: DirectX 12 tutorial and Microsoft
aka.ms/uwpgdg_collaborative-white-paper

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Prototype and design 28

 Production

Your studio is now fully engaged and moving into the production cycle, with work distributed throughout your
team. You’re polishing, refactoring, and extending the prototype to craft it into a full game.

Notifications and live tiles

A tile is your game’s representation on the Start Menu. Tiles and notifications can drive player interest even
when they aren’t currently playing your game.

Tiles, badges, and notifications

Developing tiles and badges
aka.ms/uwpgdg_tiles-badges-notifications

Notifications sample
Sample illustrating live tiles and notifications
aka.ms/uwpgdg_notifications-sample

Adaptive Tile Templates—Schema and

Adaptive tile templates (blog post) Documentation
aka.ms/uwpgdg_adaptive-tile-templates

Guidelines for tiles and badges

Designing tiles and badges
aka.ms/uwpgdg_guidelines-for-tiles-and-badges

Windows 10 app for interactively developing live Notifications Visualizer

tile templates aka.ms/uwpgdg_notifications-visualizer

Tool for creating all required tiles using

UWP Tile Generator extension for Visual Studio single image
aka.ms/uwpgdg_tool-for-creating-all-required-tiles

UWP Tile Generator extension for Visual Studio Tips on using the UWP Tile Generator tool
(blog post) aka.ms/uwpgdg_tips-on-using-uwp-tile-generator-tool

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Production 29

Enable in-app product (IAP) purchases
An IAP (in-app product) is a supplementary item that players can purchase in-game. IAPs can be new add-
ons, game levels, items, or anything else that your players might enjoy. Used appropriately, IAPs can provide
revenue while improving the game experience. You define and publish your game’s IAPs through the Windows
Dev Center dashboard, and enable in-app purchases in your game’s code.

Enable in-app product purchases

Durable in-app products
aka.ms/uwpgdg_enable-in-app-product-purchases

Enable consumable in-app product purchases

Consumable in-app products
aka.ms/uwpgdg_enable-consumable-in-app-product-purchases

IAP submissions
In-app product details and submission
aka.ms/uwpgdg_iap-submissions

Monitor IAP sales and demographics IAP acquisitions report

for your game aka.ms/uwpgdg_iap-acquisitions-report

Debugging, performance optimization, and monitoring

To optimize performance, take advantage of Game Mode in Windows 10 to provide your gamers with the best
possible gaming experience by fully utilizing the capacity of their current hardware.

The Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT) consists of performance monitoring tools that produce in-depth
performance profiles of Windows operating systems and applications. This is especially useful for monitoring
memory usage and improving game performance. The Windows Performance Toolkit is included in the
Windows 10 SDK and Windows ADK. This toolkit consists of two independent tools: Windows Performance
Recorder (WPR) and Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA). ProcDump, which is part of Windows Sysinternals
(aka.ms/uwpgdg_windows-sysinternals), is a command-line utility that monitors CPU spikes and generates
dump files during game crashes.

Cloud based load testing

Performance test your code
aka.ms/Performance-test-code

Improve performance by getting exclusive or Game Mode

priority access to hardware resources using aka.ms/Improve-performance-access-hardwareresources-
Game Mode APIs GameModeAPIs

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Production 30

 Get Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT) from Windows 10 SDK
Windows 10 SDK aka.ms/uwpgdg_windows-10-sdk

Get Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT) from Windows ADK

Windows ADK aka.ms/uwpgdg_windows-adk

Troubleshoot unresponsive UI using Windows Critical path analysis with WPA

Performance Analyzer (video) aka.ms/uwpgdg_critical-path-analysis-with-wpa

Diagnose memory usage and leaks using Memory footprint and leaks
Windows Performance Recorder (video) aka.ms/uwpgdg_memory-footprint-and-leaks

ProcDump
Get ProcDump
aka.ms/uwpgdg_procdump

Configure ProcDump to create dump files

Learn to use ProcDump (video)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_configure-procdump-to-create-dump-files

Advanced DirectX techniques and concepts

Some portions of DirectX development can be nuanced and complex. When you get to the point in production
where you need to dig down into the details of your DirectX engine, or debug difficult performance problems,
the resources and information in this section can help.

Performance tuning and debugging tool for

PIX on Windows DirectX 12 on Windows
aka.ms/PIX-on-Windows

D3D12 Performance Tuning and Debugging with

Debugging and validation tools for D3D12
PIX and GPU Validation
development (video)
aka.ms/Debugging-validation-tools-D3D12-Dev

Advanced DirectX 12 Graphics and Performance

Optimizing graphics and performance (video)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_advanced-directx-12-graphics-performance

Solve the tough graphics problems with your

DirectX graphics debugging (video) game using DirectX Tools
aka.ms/uwpgdg_solve-the-tough-graphics-problem

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Production 31

 Visual Studio 2015 tools for debugging DirectX DirectX tools for Windows 10 in Visual Studio 2015
12 (video) aka.ms/uwpgdg_directx-tools-for-windows-10-visual-studio

Direct3D 12 Programming Guide

Direct3D 12 programming guide
aka.ms/uwpgdg_direct3d-12-programming-guide

DirectX and XAML interop

Combining DirectX and XAML
aka.ms/uwpgdg_directx-and-xaml-interop

Globalization and localization

Develop world-ready games for the Windows platform and learn about the international features built into
Microsoft’s top products.

Guidelines when developing for a

Preparing your game for the global market global audience
aka.ms/uwpgdg_guidelines-when-developing-global-audience

Online resource for language conventions and

Bridging languages, cultures, and technology standard Microsoft terminology
aka.ms/uwpgdg_online-resource-for-language-conventions

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Production 32

 Submitting and publishing your game

The following guides and information help make the publishing and submission process as smooth as possible.

Publishing
You’ll use the new unified Windows Dev Center dashboard to publish and manage your game packages.

Publish Windows apps

Windows Dev Center app publishing
aka.ms/uwpgdg_publish-windows-apps

Windows Dev Center Dashboard advanced

Windows Dev Center advanced publishing (GDN) publishing guide
aka.ms/uwpgdg_windows-dev-center-dashboard

Use Azure Active Directory (AAD) to add users to Manage account users
your Dev Center account aka.ms/AAD-add-users-DevCenter-account

Single workflow to assign age ratings using

Rating your game (blog post) IARC system
aka.ms/uwpgdg_single-workflow-to-assign-age-ratings

Packaging and uploading

Nextgen UWP app distribution: Building

Learn to use streaming install and optional
extensible, stream-able, componentized apps
packages (video)
aka.ms/Learn-streaming-install-optional-packages

Divide and group content to enable UWP App Streaming install

streaming install aka.ms/Divide-group-content-enable-streaming-install

Optional packages and related set authoring

Create optional packages like DLC game content
aka.ms/Create-optional-packages-DLC-game-content

Packaging apps
Package your UWP game
aka.ms/Package-UWP-game

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Submitting and publishing your game 33

 Package your UWP DirectX game
Package your UWP DirectX game
aka.ms/Package-UWP-Directx-game

Create uploadable packages without publisher’s

Packaging your game as a 3rd party developer
store account access
(blog post)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_create-uploadable-packages-without

Create packages using app packager tool

Creating app packages and app package
MakeAppx.exe
bundles using MakeAppx
aka.ms/Create-app-package-bundles-MakeAppx

Sign files and verify signatures in files using

Signing your files digitally using SignTool SignTool
aka.ms/uwpgdg_sign-files-and-verify-signatures

Upload app packages

Uploading and versioning your game
aka.ms/uwpgdg_upload-app-packages

Policies and certification

Don’t let certification issues delay your game’s release. Here are policies and common certification issues
to be aware of.

App Developer Agreement

Windows Store App Developer Agreement
aka.ms/uwpgdg_app-developer-agreement

Windows Store Policies

Policies for publishing apps in the Windows Store
aka.ms/Windows-store-policies

How to avoid some common app Avoid common certification failures

certification issues aka.ms/uwpgdg_avoid-common-certification-failures

Store manifest (StoreManifest.xml)

The store manifest (StoreManifest.xml) is an optional configuration file that can be included in your app
package. The store manifest provides additional features that are not part of the AppxManifest.xml file. For
example, you can use the store manifest to block installation of your game if a target device doesn’t have the
specified minimum DirectX feature level, or the specified minimum system memory.

StoreManifest schema (Windows 10)

Store manifest schema
aka.ms/uwpgdg_storemanifest-schema

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Submitting and publishing your game 34

 Game lifecycle management

After you’ve finished development and shipped your game, it’s not “game over.” You may be done with
development on version one, but your game’s journey in the marketplace has only just begun. You’ll want to
monitor usage and error reporting, respond to user feedback, and publish updates to your game.

Windows Dev Center analytics and promotion

Dev Center Windows 10 app to view

Dev Center App performance of your published apps
aka.ms/uwpgdg_dev-center-windows-10-app-to-view

Analytics
Windows Dev Center analytics
aka.ms/uwpgdg_analytics

Respond to customer reviews

Responding to customer reviews
aka.ms/uwpgdg_respond-to-customer-reviews

Promote your apps

Ways to promote your game
aka.ms/uwpgdg_promote-your-apps

Visual Studio Application Insights

Visual Studio Application Insights provides performance, telemetry, and usage analytics for your published
game. Application Insights helps you detect and solve issues after your game is released, continuously monitor
and improve usage, and understand how players are continuing to interact with your game. Application
Insights works by adding an SDK into your app, which sends telemetry to the Azure portal
(aka.ms/uwpgdg_azure-portal).

Visual Studio Application Insights

Application performance and usage analytics
aka.ms/uwpgdg_visual-studio-application-insights

Application Insights for Windows Phone and

Enable Application Insights in Windows apps Store apps
aka.ms/uwpgdg_application-insights-windows-phone-store

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game lifecycle management 35

Third party solutions for analytics and promotion

GameAnalytics
Understand player behavior using GameAnalytics
aka.ms/Understand-player-behavior-GameAnalytics

Get Windows SDK for Google Analytics

Connect your UWP game to Google Analytics
aka.ms/Connect-UWP-game-Google-Analytics

Getting started with Windows SDK for Google

Learn how to use Windows SDK for Google
Analytics
Analytics (video)
aka.ms/Learn-WindowsSDK-GoogleAnalytics

Use Facebook App Installs Ads to promote your Get Windows SDK for Facebook
game to Facebook users aka.ms/Facebook-install-Ads-promote-game

Learn how to use Facebook App Installs Ads Getting started with Windows SDK for Facebook
(video) aka.ms/Learn-Facebook-install-Ads

Get Windows SDK for Vungle

Use Vungle to add video ads into your games
aka.ms/Vungle-video-adds-game

Creating and managing content updates

To update your published game, submit a new app package with a higher version number. After the package
makes its way through submission and certification, it will automatically be available to customers as an update.

Package version numbering

Updating and versioning your game
aka.ms/package-version-numbering

Guidance for app package management

Game package management guidance
aka.ms/guidance-app-package-management

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Game lifecycle management 36

 Adding Xbox Live to your game

Xbox Live is a premier gaming network that connects millions of gamers across the world. Developers gain
access to Xbox Live features that can organically grow their game’s audience, including Xbox Live presence,
Leaderboards, Cloud Saves, Game Hubs, Clubs, Party Chat, Game DVR, and more.

If you would like to develop Xbox Live enabled titles, several options are available to you.
For info about the various programs, see Developer program overview
(aka.ms/Developer-Program-Overview).

Xbox Live developer guide

Xbox Live overview
aka.ms/Xboxlive-overview

Understand which features are available Developer program overview: Feature table
depending on program aka.ms/Understand-available-features-depending-on-program

Links to useful resources for developing Xbox Xbox Live Resources

Live games aka.ms/Useful-resources-dev-XboxLive-games

Introduction to Xbox Live APIs

Learn how to get info from Xbox Live services
aka.ms/Learn-to-get-info-Xboxlive-services

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Adding Xbox Live to your game 37

For developers in the Xbox Live Creators Program

Get started with the Xbox Live Creators Program

Overview
aka.ms/Overview-Xboxlive-creators

Step by step guide to integrate Xbox Live

Add Xbox Live to your game Creators program
aka.ms/Add-Xboxlive-your-game

Get started developing an Xbox Live Creators

Add Xbox Live to your UWP game created
Program title with the Unity game engine
using Unity
aka.ms/Xboxlive-UWPgame-Unity

Xbox live sandboxes introduction

Set up your development sandbox
aka.ms/Dev-Sandbox-setup

Authorize Xbox Live accounts in your test

Set up accounts for testing environment
aka.ms/Setup-accounts-testing

Code samples for Creators Program developers

Samples for Xbox Live Creators Program
aka.ms/Samples-XboxLive-Creators-Program

Learn how to integrate cross-platform Xbox Live Xbox Live Creators Program
experiences in UWP games (video) aka.ms/Integrate-crossplatform-Xboxlive-UWPgames

For managed partners and developers in the ID@Xbox program

Get started with Xbox Live as a managed partner

Overview or an ID developer
aka.ms/Overview-Xboxlive-partner

Step by step guide to integrate Xbox Live for

Add Xbox Live to your game managed partners and ID members
aka.ms/Xboxlive-your-game

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Adding Xbox Live to your game 38

 Add Xbox Live support to Unity for UWP with
Add Xbox Live to your UWP game created using IL2CPP scripting backend for ID and managed
Unity partners
aka.ms/Xboxlive-UWPgame-created-Unity

Advanced Xbox Live sandboxes

Set up your development sandbox
aka.ms/Setup-Dev-Sandbox

Xbox Requirements for Xbox Live on Windows 10

Requirements for games that use Xbox Live (GDN)
aka.ms/game-requirements-Xboxlive-GDN

Code samples for ID@Xbox developers

Samples
aka.ms/XboxLive-samples2

Overview of Xbox Live game development Developing with Xbox Live for Windows 10
(video) aka.ms/uwpgdg_developing-with-xbox-live-for-windows10

Xbox Live Multiplayer: Introducing services for

Cross-platform matchmaking (video) cross-platform matchmaking and gameplay
aka.ms/uwpgdg_xbox-live-multiplayer-introducing

Fable Legends: Cross-device Gameplay

Cross-device gameplay in Fable Legends (video) with Xbox Live
aka.ms/CrossDevice-gameplay-FableLegends

Best Practices for Leveraging Cloud-Based User

Xbox Live stats and achievements (video) Stats and Achievements in Xbox Live
aka.ms/uwpgdg_best-practices-leveraging-cloud-based-user

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Adding Xbox Live to your game 39

 Additional resources

Videos from major conferences like

Game development videos GDC and //build
aka.ms/game-dev-videos

New Opportunities for Independent Developers

Indie game development (video)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_new-opportunities-for-independent-dev

Sustained Gaming Performance in multi-core

Considerations for multi-core mobile
mobile devices
devices (video)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_sustained-gaming-performance

PC Games for Windows 10

Developing Windows 10 desktop games (video)
aka.ms/uwpgdg_pc-games-for-windows-10

developer.microsoft.com/games

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Additional resources 40

 Dream.Build.Play

Dream.Build.Play Community
Dream.Build.Play is an online community of creators and game makers from across the globe. It was
created under the premise that together, as a global collective of talented individuals, we can elevate the
industry with great games and content.

Dream.Build.Play is a:
• Global community of game makers

• Resource for tutorials and guides

• Host of contests and challenges reaching more than $200,000 in prizes

• Place to showcase and share game ideas, content, artwork and more

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Dream.Build.Play 41

Dream.Build.Play 2017 Challenge
As a Dream.Build.Play community member, you have access to hundreds of thousands in prizes, starting
with the launch of the 2017 Challenge. Showcase your game, submit it by December 31, 2017, and
compete to win prizes totaling over $200K.

Four game category grand prizes:

Cloud-powered game PC game

Grand prize: $100,000 Grand prize: $50,000

Mixed reality game Console game

Grand prize: $50,000 Grand prize: $25,000

Join our community of game makers: dreambuildplay.com

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Dream.Build.Play 42

 Y
X B
A

Microsoft Game Development Guide

Microsoft Azure Windows Mixed Reality

Game Development Guide (09/2017) | Dream.Build.Play 43