XNA Framework and app development for Windows Phone 8

[ This article is for Windows Phone 8 developers. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation. ]

This topic describes support for the XNA Framework in Windows Phone SDK 8.0.

  • XNA Game Studio 4.0 apps that target Windows Phone OS 7.1 remain fully supported and continue to run on Windows Phone 8 devices.

  • You can continue to develop and maintain new or existing XNA Framework apps that target Windows Phone OS 7.1.

  • You can’t upgrade existing XNA Framework apps that target Windows Phone OS 7.1 to target Windows Phone OS 8.0.

  • You can’t create new XNA Framework apps that target Windows Phone OS 8.0.

    When you select an XNA Game Studio 4.0 project template, you can only choose Windows Phone OS 7.1 as the target operating system.

  • You can use certain XNA Framework assemblies in apps that target Windows Phone OS 8.0.

    You can reference and use the following XNA Framework assemblies in apps that target Windows Phone OS 8.0. You can’t reference or use other XNA Framework assemblies that aren’t in this list in apps that target Windows Phone OS 8.0.

    • Microsoft.Xna.Framework.dll

    • Microsoft.Xna.Framework.GamerServices.dll

    • Microsoft.Xna.Framework.GamerServicesExtensions.dll

    • Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Input.Touch.dll

    • Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Media.dll

    • Microsoft.Xna.Framework.MediaLibraryExtensions.dll