Microsoft Game Dev

A stylized purple 3D character model wearing a large black VR headset floats above a flat virtual landscape with mountains in the background. White text at the top reads, “The Key to Optimizing Virtual Reality Games with Simplygon.” (Alt generated by Microsoft Copilot and reviewed for accuracy)

Optimization is critical for VR headsets and @simplygon.com has the tools you need to reach peak performance!

Here are the key features to get your game running smoothly:
🔗 msft.it/63328QjOXj

Purple gradient graphic with the title ‘PlayFab Digest: February Feature Updates’ centered in white text. (Alt generated by Microsoft Copilot and reviewed for accuracy)

The PlayFab Digest for February has arrived! 🎉

Updates this month focus on:
🧭 Game Manager navigation
🌐 Unreal Online Subsystem (OSS)
📊 Retirement of Insights Management

Read all the details: msft.it/63321QjO3h

The Xbox logo sits at the center of an abstract design made of layered blue and green shapes with leaves and small plant elements, creating an eco-themed look. (Alt generated by Microsoft Copilot and reviewed for accuracy)

Xbox Sustainability Mixer 🌟 You’re invited!

Swing by on Thurs, March 12 (4:30 - 6:30 PM) to connect with our team, meet folks in the gaming community, and chat about sustainable practices. ♻️🌍

No GDC registration required - just RSVP if you’re planning to join us. #GDC2026

t.co/4NLhaPtbme

Green graphic promoting GDC 2026 Sponsored Sessions, surrounded by various gaming devices including a TV, ROG Xbox Ally X, laptop, smartphone, and an Xbox Series X with a controller.” (Alt generated by Microsoft Copilot and reviewed for accuracy)

Planning your GDC Week?

We've got a great lineup of sponsored sessions from Tues-Thurs!

Check out our full schedule of 30+ sessions with speakers from Xbox, Microsoft, Windows, Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, King, and our partners 🌟 #GDC2026

msft.it/63320QbrY4

Purple promotional graphic announcing “Discord Office Hours” on February 27, 2026 at 11 AM PT, focused on “AMD Handheld Game Integration.” The image includes the Xbox and Discord logos at the top and lists speakers Terry Chen, Alex Pecorar, and Cristian Cutocheras. (Alt generated by Microsoft Copilot and reviewed for accuracy)

Our next Office Hours welcomes our friends from AMD to talk all things handheld game integration! If your next project is coming to handheld, you won't want to miss this session.

🗓️Make sure to join our Discord today and set a reminder for the event: discord.gg/msftgamedev

Office Hours Recap - Team PlayFab Q&A In this Office Hours Recap, the PlayFab team join us to answer your questions about their work. This panel of four experts covered a lot of ground on current features and shared their professional insights on the robust services PlayFab can provide for your projects.

The latest Office Hours Recap is now available!

If you missed our session with Team PlayFab earlier in January, you won't want to miss this one.

Read on: msft.it/63324QpfLK

Silver Xbox Excellence Award trophy against a green gradient background with the text ‘Xbox Excellence Awards.

Which of the 2025 Xbox Excellence Award recipients were on your play list last year? 🎮

If you missed the announcement, catch up on the news here: msft.it/63326Qryvq

Celebrating the 2025 Xbox Excellence Awards - Xbox Wire Join us in celebrating the year’s most outstanding games and the teams behind them with the 2025 Xbox Excellence Awards. Check out the full list and winners here: #url#

The 2025 Xbox Excellence Awards are here! 🎉

Join us in celebrating the past year's most outstanding games and the teams behind them. 🎊 Congrats to all our honorees and thank you for creating the most amazing worlds for us all to enjoy.

See the full list of recipients: news.xbox.com/2026/02/11/x...

Green promotional graphic with the Xbox logo and the headline ‘Build for what’s next. The future of Xbox starts now,’ surrounded by Xbox devices including a console, controllers, laptop, tablet, and phone.

Xbox is heading to GDC 2026! 🎊

Headed to @officialgdc.bsky.social next month? Stop by and connect with us, other game creators, publishers, and more.

We'll also be hosting our first Xbox Dev Summit to help game devs like you build what's next! Learn more: developer.microsoft.com/games/articl...

Mobile games often rely on a free-to-play model where monetization comes from microtransactions.

👉Asset creation cost is directly correlated to how profitable the video game is.

👍How to reduce the cost of mobile art optimization
simplygon.com/posts/9bdd27...

#gamedev

Join the Microsoft Game Dev Discord Server! The official home for game devs, hosted by Microsoft. Learn, grow, and connect while publishing to Xbox! | 11138 members

And if you haven't joined our Discord, what are you waiting for?

Join the conversation, make connections with Microsoft Game Dev experts, and network with developers of all sizes: discord.gg/msftgamedev

Are you a member of our Community Discord? Do you have thoughts on how we can better serve our community?

We want to hear from you! If you have ~5 minutes to take this quick survey, we'd greatly appreciate it. Help us help you on your journey to publish on Xbox: nam.dcv.ms/3o4SkhaRCA

Purple promotional graphic for Discord Open Office Hours. The design shows the Discord logo and text reading “Discord Open Office Hours, hosted by Brandy Camel & Clint Woon, every Friday @ 11AM PT.” Two circular profile photos appear near the bottom, separated by a plus sign, with Microsoft and Xbox logos near the top.

Happy Friday!

Open Office Hours begins in just under 30 minutes on our Discord! Bring your questions, share your game dev stories, or just come and make connections with your friendly local Microsoft Game Dev staff!

Join the server today: discord.gg/msftgamedev

PlayFab Digest: January Feature Updates Take a closer look at the enhancements to PlayFab for the month of January.

The January PlayFab Digest is here! This month's updates include:

🍎 Smoother iOS integrations
🖥️ Improved Unreal Support
🛠️ New Game Manager tools

Read more in our latest blog: msft.it/63325QyjrJ

Office Hours Recap - ID@Xbox In this Office Hours Recap, we revisit a Q&A with ID@Xbox Director Guy Richards and Lead Developer Partner Manager Michael Siebert to talk all about digital publishing through the program, including tips and advice on the application and pitching processes.

The first Office Hours Recap for 2026 is here! 🎉

If you're planning to apply to @idatxbox.bsky.social, learn all about the program as well as tips on applying straight from the experts. #gamedev

🔗 msft.it/63320QG29G

How to Optimize Vegetation with Simplygon We take a closer look at five different tools for automated vegetation asset optimization.

Another of my @msftgamedev.bsky.social articles is up. In it I'll give an overview of how to optimize vegetation assets. I'll cover why those are tricky and what tools we at @simplygon.com has to tackle them.

developer.microsoft.com/en-us/games/...

#gamedev

Yes! We love spending time with the Little Kitty to the sound of chill tunes. 🐈‍⬛😎

Just good vibes today. 😎

Tell us a game you'd describe as "chill." #gamedev

What's New in Microsoft Game Dev Tools and Services Check out an overview of the latest updates to Microsoft Game Development tools and services.

Have you kept up on the latest Microsoft Game Dev Tools & Services? Our Q4 2025 Overview has all the details in one place!

A few highlights include:
☑️ GDK 10.25
☑️ GameInput v3.1
☑️ Game Profiles for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally

➕ More : msft.it/63323QDgXB

Discord - Group Chat That’s All Fun & Games Discord is great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play, and hang out.

Going live now with the PlayFab team - join us on Discord and bring your developer questions!

discord.com/channels/684...

Is there a #gamedev you admire? Why do they inspire you?

Promotional graphic for a Discord Office Hours event featuring Team PlayFab, scheduled for January 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM PT. Guest speakers listed are David Sayed, Keith Kline, Kirsten Dearnley, and Ronald Harding.

Our first guests on Office Hours join us from the PlayFab team!

🗓️On Friday, January 16 at 11:00 AM Pacific, come hang out on Discord, chat with us, and don't be afraid to ask our knowledgeable team your questions.

Join the event here: discord.gg/Wr3yJBAA?eve...

Happy Friday and welcome to 2026!

How has your first week of the year gone, game devs? What are you looking forward to accomplishing this year? #askadev

Purple promotional graphic for Discord Open Office Hours, hosted by Brandy Camel and Clint Woon. The design features the Discord logo and text reading “Open Office Hours,” with the schedule noted as every Friday at 11 a.m. PT, along with circular profile-style images beneath the text and subtle interface icons on the background.

Our first Office Hours of 2026 is this Friday, January 9!

Join us to chat, ask questions, or just share with us what you're working on. We're looking forward to hearing from our game dev community and kicking off the new year.

Join us on Discord: discord.gg/msftgamedev

January Indie Selects 2026

January's Selects have arrived! 🎉Let's make 2026 the best year yet for Indie Selects!

Which have you played and what are you wanting to try? #xbox #idxbox #indiegames

We're almost to the end of 2025. 😲 The year's really flown by, hasn't it?

What's your greatest #gamedev accomplishment this year? We'd love to celebrate your wins! 🎉

Office Hours Recap - James Lewis James Lewis, Director of the ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program (DAP) joined us to go over the program in detail, covering everything from its history to best practices for applying.

Our final Office Hours Recap blog for 2025 is now available. 🎉

Come learn everything about the @idatxbox.bsky.social Developer Acceleration Program from program director James Lewis. msft.it/63321toWgX

Clair Obscur really did outdo itself with its soundtrack. 🎶

We've had that one stuck in our head all day, really. 🎼

Tell us your most memorable game soundtrack! #gamedev

How to Create AAA Quality Vehicle LODs for Racing Games with Simplygon Five expert tips for optimizing high-quality Level of Detail (LOD) models for vehicles using Simplygon.

High-quality Level of Detail (LOD) models for vehicles can make or break the performance and visual fidelity in racing games. 🏎️💨

Want to hit top speed? Check out our latest blog for (5) expert tips using @simplygon.com : msft.it/63326tc40o