The technology will be available from August 30, 3006 as a free download for those with a Windows XP-based PC. For an annual subscription fee of $99, users can join a ‘creators club’ enabling them to build, test and share their games on Xbox 360 and access materials to help speed up the game development process.
Microsoft says that this represents the first significant opportunity for novice developers to make a console game without a significant investment in resources.
Microsoft claims that more than 10 US universities, including the University of Southern California and Southern Methodist University, will integrate console game development and XNA Game Studio Express into their curriculum.
A second XNA toolset geared toward game development professionals is scheduled to be made available in spring 2007, potentially changing the way commercial games are developed.
