Microsoft has released a GDK plug-in for Unreal Engine 5.8, streamlining the process of developing Xbox games for PC. These plug-ins eliminate the need to use WinGDK as a separate platform, allowing developers to remain on Win64 when creating Xbox-compatible games.
Microsoft says this change is intended to reduce ‘friction’ between Xbox games and other PC storefronts.
What changed for developers and four new GDK plug-ins
Building for Xbox on PC in Unreal Engine requires developers to use WinGDK, a separate platform that often causes compatibility issues and makes the workflow more complex when released on many PC storefronts.
The new plug-ins now enable developers to remain on Win64 rather than switching to WinGDK, continue to use existing third-party plug-ins, adopt a development process better aligned with other PC storefronts, and ship a single executable to multiple storefronts.
Microsoft is releasing four new plug-ins as part of its latest update:
- The Microsoft GDK Store, which allows developers to configure games directly within the Unreal Editor and generate the required packages for Xbox on PC from the project settings menu. the second one is
- The Microsoft GDK Runtime provides access to the GDK API at runtime to enable features such as Xbox compatible cloud saves, user selection, and integration with the system UI. the third is
- Online Subsystem GDK, which uses the Unreal Engine’s platform abstraction layer to manage achievements, friends, presence, and other Xbox services. is the fourth
- Online Subsystem Selector, introduced in Unreal Engine 5.8, enables developers to ship the same executable to multiple PC storefronts and automatically switch online subsystem behavior at runtime.
This last feature is especially important for studios that release titles on multiple PC platforms, as it removes the need to maintain separate builds for Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store.
Documentation, the latest tools, and what it means for Project Helix
Microsoft has published documentation on how to get started with the new plug-in. Plug-ins are now available, allowing developers to integrate them into existing Unreal Engine 5.8 projects.
Microsoft’s latest release aims to make Xbox PC development more accessible to indie and mid-tier studios. Recent updates include the Xbox Godot sampler, which provides tools for Godot engine developers, and
Xbox PC remote tool to speed up game deployment, testing, and debugging. The company also continues to invest in cross-storefront compatibility with tools like the Online Subsystem Selector.
These development tool improvements are part of a broader effort by Microsoft related to Project Helix, the codename for the next Xbox hardware platform, which is expected to be based on PCs. Simplifying Unreal Engine development for Xbox on PC helps developers easily prepare games for upcoming hardware.
Microsoft has not announced specific timelines for expanding engine support beyond Unreal Engine 5.8 and Godot, but it has indicated ongoing investments to make PC development easier across multiple engines.
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