Credit: Microsoft.
In recent years, Microsoft has sought to entice game developers to use Azure and other of its cloud services. This Wednesday, March 23, 2022, Microsoft announced the launch of a few additional programs and services specifically designed for independent game developers.
Microsoft introduced its Azure Game Development virtual machine, aimed at developers who want to test and build games in a production-ready cloud environment. Virtual machines will be preloaded with tools such as Unreal Engine, Perforce, Incredibuild, Visual Studio, DirectX/GDK/PlayFab SDKs, among others.
The pre-built game development virtual machine allows developers to get game development workstations up and running or building servers in about five minutes, according to Microsoft officials. Developers can also use a Game Dev VM configured as a base image to create desktop environments or custom development servers.
“We are committed to making Azure the cloud of choice for game creators, so expect to see additional investments in the future, including: more powerful compute and GPUs, tighter partner integrations with improved cloud-native authentication, better end-to-end samples and documentation on running your game development pipeline in Azure, better options for cloud pipelines leveraging Xbox development and more » , said Ben Humphrey, principal software engineer for Azure in a blog post.
ID@Azure program now available
Additionally, Microsoft now makes the ID@Azure program available, which is similar to what it did with the ID@Xbox program. ID@Azure is a free program intended to provide game developers with the Microsoft tools and infrastructure to create games that can run on any platform. This program includes free validation and onboarding services, educational resources, and support from Azure experts.
Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming service runs on Azure. Game developers, including Microsoft itself, already have access to Bing Maps, Microsoft Mesh, Azure AI, PlayFab developer services, and other cloud-based Microsoft technologies to build and maintain their games. In return, all the work game developers do on Azure “informs and accelerates cloud computing,” the officials said.
In 2019, Microsoft announced the Microsoft Game Stack, a collection of cloud services like Azure, Power BI, PlayFab, Mixer, and Xbox Live, plus various developer tools, which are marketed to game developers. Microsoft bought PlayFab, a tool provider for cloud-connected games, in 2018.
Source: ZDNet.com