Microsoft has announced the launch of several new programs and services aimed specifically at game developers in an effort to get them to use its Azure (opens in new tab) cloud computing service.
The first of which is the software giant's Azure Game Development Virtual Machine (opens in new tab) that allows game developers to test and build games in a production-ready cloud environment.
Game developers will be able to get started right away on Microsoft's virtual machines (opens in new tab) (VMs) as they come preloaded with tools like Unreal Engine, Perforce, Incredibuild, Visual Studio and Blender alongside software development kits (SDKs) such as Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK), PlayFab and DirectX.
While developers will be able to spin up game dev workstations (opens in new tab) or build servers (opens in new tab) using the pre-built Game Development Virtual Machine, they can also use a configured Game Dev VM to build their own custom environments.
ID@Azure program
Microsoft also announced that its ID@Azure (opens in new tab) program is now generally available after launching back in December of last year as an invitation-only closed beta.
This new program is based on the software giant's previous ID@Xbox (opens in new tab) program which allowed independent game developers to self-publish digital games on Xbox One.
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Just like ID@Xbox, ID@Azure is a free program designed to provide game developers with tools and infrastructure from Microsoft so that they can build games capable of running on any platform. At the same time, the program also includes up to $5,000 in Azure credits, a free Azure PlayFab Standard Plan for up to two years, code samples from GitHub (opens in new tab), training modules, Azure Rapid Response support and more.
While game developers are getting plenty of tools and resources from Microsoft, all of the work they do on Azure will help the company further improve its cloud computing service.
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Via ZDNet (opens in new tab)
