XNA 2.0 Beta Now Available for Download

Microsoft Downloads - Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express 2.0 Beta

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This release represents the beta of the latest edition to the XNA Game Studio family, Microsoft XNA Game Studio 2.0 which enables hobbyists, academics, and independent game developers to easily create video games for Windows and the Xbox 360 console using optimized cross-platform gaming libraries based on .NET.

This beta release of the much anticipated 2.0 version contains improved performance along with new features such as expanded support for Visual Studio 2005 products, networking and multiplayer support, the XNA Game Studio Device Center, easier Xbox 360 connectivity, integrated game content projects and much more.

For additional setup information and known issues, please read the XNA Game Studio 2.0 Beta Readme page using the link below.

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XNA Game Studio Express 2.0 Beta Readme

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This is an important release for XNA...

Given the broader VS2005 SKU support (Thank you!) I wonder how well it will play with VS2008? (um... not well it seems. According to the Beta readme, "XNA Game Studio is not supported on any member of the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 product line or any pre-released version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008."). Let's hope when it RTM's it supports both...