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Microsoft has released a brand new Xbox Development Kit that promises to offer users increased efficiency and reduced costs.
The revised XDK is to provide studios with additional RAM for development purposes, and features built-in flash memory and larger hard disk drives than its predecessor.
The new console also lets developers license a Sidecar attachment for the purposes of debugging and disc emulation. The Sidecar option offers greater flexibility for studios that wish to avoid investment in complete debugging units for staff members that just need the standard XDK.
Additionally, the Sidecar can be shared with multiple XDK consoles, allowing studios to further negate the need to license additional higher cost debugging consoles.
“Microsoft is known in the industry for providing easy-to-use tools that allow developers to create high quality games without a huge time investment. Now we’re offering those tools at a lower cost to reduce their monetary investment as well,” said Pete Isensee, principal program manager for the Xbox Advanced Technology Group.
“The redesigned Xbox Development Kit is also an indicator of our continued investment in the platform; it is one piece of our ongoing programs to support Xbox 360 for years to come.”
Microsoft’s new development kit also boasts a smaller form factor, and is available at a substantially reduced price from its predecessor.
The new XDK and accompanying Sidecar will be made available to all developers who have existing licensing contracts with Microsoft.
Upon luanch the new XDK console will be established as the standard kit delivered new orders.
