XNA

XNA is a set of tools and a managed runtime from Microsoft designed to simplify video game development for Windows and Xbox platforms. The name XNA is a branding choice and does not stand for a specific acronym. The platform comprises the XNA Framework, the XNA Content Pipeline, and XNA Game Studio, an extension for Visual Studio that provides project templates and build support.

The XNA Framework offers high-level APIs for graphics, input, audio, and timing, while the Content Pipeline compiles assets such as textures, models, and sounds into runtime-friendly formats. Developers typically write code in C# using the .NET runtime, targeting both 2D and 3D games. The tools are designed to streamline cross-platform development within the Windows/Xbox ecosystem, enabling shared codebases across PCs and the Xbox 360 (with variations in capabilities per platform).

History and lifecycle: XNA was introduced in the mid-2000s as part of Microsoft's strategy for indie and student developers. It supported Windows and Xbox 360, with later extensions for Windows Phone 7. The final major release was XNA Framework 4.0 (along with XNA Game Studio 4.0) around 2010. In 2013 Microsoft announced that official XNA support would end, with no further official updates. After end of life, developers migrated to other tools or relied on community-driven ports and reimplementations.

Legacy and successors: Open-source projects such as MonoGame and FNA provide XNA-compatible APIs on modern platforms, enabling many older XNA titles to run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices. These projects also allow new games to be developed using a familiar API while targeting contemporary hardware.