Windows Dev Center adds new capabilities

3 min. read

Published on August 30, 2016

published on August 30, 2016

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A few weeks ago, Microsoft started to roll out the Windows 10 Anniversary Update to a whole family of Windows 10 devices. Along with it came the Windows 10 Anniversary Update SDK build 14393 to allow developers to leverage the 2,700 plus enhancements included in the new release. To make the growing Universal Windows Platform even more attractive for developers, the Redmond giant has also announced this week several new capabilities to the Windows Dev Center and developers will be pleased to know that they’re finally allowed to publish UWP apps to the unified Windows Store.

Here are the most important new Dev Center capabilities:

Submit apps and games to Xbox One

Reduce the risk of a new app release with gradual package rollout

Communicate optional and required hardware preferences

Ensure customers have an ideal experience with your app or game through mandatory updates

Simplify cross-device development with Store–managed consumables

Streamline app management with the Submission API and simplified device family targeting

Enhance your business analysis through improved reports: lifetime add-on acquisitions, an enhanced Feedback report and the new Real time report

Work faster in Dev Center using the new dashboard view

As of now, the Xbox One has become a full member of the Windows 10 ecosystem and all developers using the new Windows 10 Anniversary Update SDK can now submit apps and games to the gaming console. Among other highlights, Microsoft’s Dev Center now allow developers to gradually roll out app updates to a percentage of users. This is quite similar to what Microsoft currently does with Windows Insiders who often receive app updates before users on the production ring. However, this gradual package rollout feature will work on a bigger scale as developers will be able to target all users running Windows.Desktop build 10586 or later, Windows.Mobile build 10586.63 or later, and Xbox One.

Another interesting new Dev Center feature is the ability to push mandatory updates for apps and games, and Microsoft notes that “this is frequently used in multi-player online games to ensure customers have the latest version before they run the game.” This new feature will require developers to use the latest Windows 10 SDK and it will only available on Windows 10 devices running the anniversary update.

We invite you to read the full blog post to learn more about all these new Dev Center capabilities, and we also remind you that Microsoft is hosting an “App Dev on Xbox” live event today 9:00am PST to cover the new Anniversary Update SDK capabilities that make it possible to build great UWP apps that scale across different form factors..

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.