Microsoft debuts cloud-based virtual workstations for game developers
Microsoft is unveiling its next big push in the world of game development tooling. Today the company is showing off two new cloud-based programs for game developers.
The first is an Azure-based virtual workstation program called "Azure Game Dev Virtual Machine" that lets developers access powerful game-making tools on any computing device. The second program is called "[email protected]," a new program to subsidize access to back-end Azure-based cloud tools for independent developers.
The program was announced back in 2021, but details for developers are now live.
Microsoft's virtual workstation program is the bigger of the two announcements. It's a service that can be scaled up or down for developers of different sizes, and allows developers to remotely access high-end game development rigs hosted on the Azure back end.
The workstations come pre-packaged with several familiar game development tools, including Visual Studio, Unreal Engine, Perforce, Blender, DirectX, and more. If your studio is based on other game development tools, you can add them to these workstations using your existing license keys.
Meanwhile, the [email protected] program is almost exactly what it says on the tin. Just like how the [email protected] program is structured to help independent developers publish on Xbox, [email protected] is a program to help smaller creators utilize Azure cloud technology for their game's online backends. This could be for small multiplayer games or developers who want to make "cloud-aware" titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Why would a developer want to use a virtual workstation? Microsoft Gaming Ecosystem CVP Kevin Gammill explained to Game Developer that this program was developed in response to challenges that
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