Microsoft Gives Mixed Signals on Fate of DirectX
After freaking out the gaming community with an email that seemed to signal the end of DirectX, Microsoft is now assuring everyone that DirectX is alive and well. The Microsoft XNA toolset is what’s being cut loose.
The confusion arose from an email that was sent to DirectX/XNA MVPs by Microsoft. The email told MVPs that the MVP Award Program for DirectX/XNA would be retired by April 1 of 2014, giving many people the impression that both components were being put out to pasture. After a flurry of news reports on the topic, Mary Jo Foley got to the bottom of the issue: Microsoft goofed. The company confirmed that the email was inaccurate so far as DirectX is concerned, and that “Microsoft is actively investing in DirectX…”
So, it looks like this is a lot to do about nothing – at least for DirectX. The lack of support for XNA isn’t surprising, as Microsoft has been discouraging its use in mobile game and Windows 8 game development.
It looks like DirectX isn't going anywhere, after all.
The confusion arose from an email that was sent to DirectX/XNA MVPs by Microsoft. The email told MVPs that the MVP Award Program for DirectX/XNA would be retired by April 1 of 2014, giving many people the impression that both components were being put out to pasture. After a flurry of news reports on the topic, Mary Jo Foley got to the bottom of the issue: Microsoft goofed. The company confirmed that the email was inaccurate so far as DirectX is concerned, and that “Microsoft is actively investing in DirectX…”
So, it looks like this is a lot to do about nothing – at least for DirectX. The lack of support for XNA isn’t surprising, as Microsoft has been discouraging its use in mobile game and Windows 8 game development.
