Microsoft announced the 3rd annual Dream-Build-Play global game development competition that encourages aspiring and hobbyist developers to create new and innovative games for X360. The XNA Game Studio is getting updates later this spring so developers will be able to take advantage of new partner additions and Xbox Live features.

A year after its initial release Microsoft has launched XNA Game Studio 2.0, which adds more than 15 new features, not in the least the ability to create online, cross-platform multiplayer games for Xbox 360 and Windows using Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows Live.

Microsoft released an update to XNA Game Studio Express which adds new functionality, enhancements and performance improvements to the software. Officially dubbed the XNA Game Studio Express 1.0 Refresh, this release is an incremental update to the previously released XNA Game Studio Express 1.0.

XNA Game Studio Express opens up the world of game development to the masses and is now available for free to anyone with a WinXP-based PC. Microsoft also unveiled the XNA Creators Club, opening up video game development to untapped creative minds, enabling anyone to affordably build and play amazing game ideas on Xbox 360.

Microsoft today released the second iteration of its XNA Game Studio Express beta, upgraded with full functionality for Windows and third party toolset support, allowing hobbyists, academics and independent game developers to more easily integrate game content into their creations.

Microsoft today released the public beta of XNA Game Studio Express, the technology designed to open up game development to new audiences, including hobbyists, students and independent developers, in the hopes of injecting a shot of creativity into the electronic entertainment industry.

In the 30 years of video game development, the art of making console games has been reserved for those with big projects, big budgets and the backing of big game labels. Now Microsoft Corp. is bringing this art to the masses with a revolutionary new set of tools, called XNA Game Studio Express, based on the XNA platform.