Microsoft is bringing its Xbox Live network to iOS and Android devices. The software giant is launching a new cross-platform mobile software development kit (SDK) for game developers to bring Xbox Live functionality to games that run on iOS and Android. Xbox Live features like achievements, Gamerscore, hero stats, friend lists, clubs, and even some family settings will all be available on iOS and Android.
It’s all part of a bigger push from Microsoft to make its Xbox games and services available across multiple platforms. Game developers will be able to pick and choose parts of Xbox Live to integrate into their games, and it will all be enabled through a single sign-in to a Microsoft Account. Microsoft is using its identity network to support login, privacy, online safety, and child accounts.
Microsoft wants game developers to take a similar Minecraft approach and bring Xbox Live to more mobile games. Some iOS and Android games already have Xbox Live Achievements, but they’re only enabled in titles from Microsoft Studios at the moment and this new SDK will open up Xbox Live functionality to many more games.
This new mobile SDK is part of a bigger push from Microsoft for cloud gaming and developer tools. The software maker is announcing a new Microsoft Game Stack for developers just ahead of the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC). Microsoft Game Stack combines all of the company’s developer tools, services, and platforms with Azure and PlayFab, the platform of services that help developers build and launch cloud-connected games. Microsoft acquired PlayFab last year, and this is the first major milestone for the service.
PlayFab will now be part of Microsoft’s cloud tools and Azure, allowing developers to spin up multiplayer servers for games with matchmaking, voice and chat services, and user-generated content. Microsoft Game Stack will also include DirectX, Mixer, Power BI, Havok, Visual Studio, Windows, Xbox Game Studios, Xbox Live, and Simplygon. It’s a whole mix of Microsoft’s most powerful game development tools under a more manageable single platform.
https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/14/1826 ... t-featuresMicrosoft taps Gameye to help power multiplayer for Microsoft Studios games
Gameye's container-based cloud tech will help bring low-latency multiplayer to Microsoft Studios titles.
Microsoft announced today that it is partnering with Gameye, a Rotterdam-based company that focuses on delivering enhanced multiplayer infrastructure for multiplayer games. Through the partnership, Gameye's container-based system will join Microsoft Azure to give Microsoft Studios developers access to the APIs necessary to enable low-latency multiplayer and competitive play across their games.
"Through this collaboration, Gameye will work with Microsoft Azure to provide the market with a cutting edge, scalable multiplayer API, a solution that engages container server technology and an enterprise grade orchestrator to take competitive gaming to new heights of connectivity and stability," Gameye said in a press release. Gameye's tech is meant to help players access a network of the "lowest latency servers," potentially killing lag and ensuring competitive play remains as responsive as possible.
Gameye says it will be able to deploy containers within five seconds anywhere in the world, and each container can scale based on the need of the game. With the ability to scale up and downscale rapidly with sessions and matches, the partnership with Azure will allow Gameye's tech to be rolled out worldwide.
"We're thrilled to be recognised by an industry leader as iconic and visionary as Microsoft for the potential our technology can offer to their game studios," said Gameye CEO Sebastiaan Heijne in a press release. "Our API is the fastest and most advanced that the industry has seen so far, and with Microsoft we will become an industry-leading benchmark in container server technology."
Gameye will be on hand to demonstrate its tech at the Microsoft stand at GDC 2019 later this month.
https://www.windowscentral.com/microsof ... dios-games