Localization of packaged resources

The strings and images referenced in MicrosoftGame.config can be localized to the user’s locale. Visual Studio 2019+ auto-generates a resources.pri file that the OS looks up at runtime. Dump the file from the GDK command prompt:

MakePri.exe dump /if resources.pri /of out.xml

Localizing app name and description

Add default strings

Right-click your project in Solution Explorer and add a New Filter named Strings.
Right-click Strings and add a New Item > Assembly Resource File (.resx). VS creates resources.resx at the package root.

The GDK requires .resw. Rename resources.resx to resources.resw.

Reference strings in MicrosoftGame.config

<ShellVisuals DefaultDisplayName="ms-resource:AppName"
              PublisherDisplayName="Publisher Display name"
              StoreLogo="StoreLogo.png"
              Square150x150Logo="Logo.png"
              Square44x44Logo="SmallLogo.png"
              Description="ms-resource:AppDescription"
              BackgroundColor="#000040"
              SplashScreenImage="SplashScreen.png"/>

Add per-language strings

Create a Strings/<lang> filter per supported language, add an Assembly Resource File under each, set Item Type = PRI Resource, and rename to .resw.

Declare languages in MicrosoftGame.config

<Resources>
    <Resource Language="en-US"/>
    <Resource Language="fr-FR"/>
    <Resource Language="de-DE"/>
</Resources>

For Traditional Chinese support, also list zh-SG and zh-CN for fallback.

Localizing images

Logo, SmallLogo, SplashScreen, StoreLogo can be localized:

Add per-language subfolders under a shared folder (e.g. Images).
Add images with Item Type = Image, Content = Yes.
Provide default images at the root as fallbacks.

Include at least one image resource. Otherwise localized strings won’t resolve and the title’s name shows as ms-resource:AppName.

Chunk layout

<Chunk Id="1000" Marker="Launch">
    <FileGroup DestinationPath="\Images"       SourcePath="Images"       Include="*.*"/>
    <FileGroup DestinationPath="\Images\en-US" SourcePath="Images\en-US" Include="*.*"/>
    <FileGroup DestinationPath="\Images\fr-FR" SourcePath="Images\fr-FR" Include="*.*"/>
    <FileGroup DestinationPath="\" SourcePath="." Include="resources.pri"/>
</Chunk>

Intelligent Delivery

Tag chunks with Languages:

<Chunk Id="1005" Languages="en-US">
    <FileGroup DestinationPath="\assets\audio" SourcePath="." Include="en_us_commentary.mp3"/>
</Chunk>
<Chunk Id="1008" Languages="es-MX, en-US">
    <FileGroup DestinationPath="\assets" SourcePath="." Include="mixed_content.dat"/>
</Chunk>

Install behavior

Console en-US → installs 1005 and 1008.
Console en-GB → falls back to en-US → installs 1005 and 1008.
Untagged chunks always install.

Testing with xbapp

/Languages — install for listed languages regardless of console setting.
/AllChunks — install the entire package.
/w — keep the connection open after install.

GDK and Game Engines Integration

Steam porting guide

Game Principles

Core Features

Console Features

Localizing app name and description

Add default strings

Reference strings in MicrosoftGame.config

Add per-language strings

Declare languages in MicrosoftGame.config

Localizing images

Chunk layout

Intelligent Delivery

Install behavior

Testing with xbapp

See also

​Localizing app name and description

​Add default strings

​Reference strings in MicrosoftGame.config

​Add per-language strings

​Declare languages in MicrosoftGame.config

​Localizing images

​Chunk layout

​Intelligent Delivery

​Install behavior

​Testing with xbapp

​See also

​Related API documentation

Localizing app name and description

Add default strings

Reference strings in MicrosoftGame.config

Add per-language strings

Declare languages in MicrosoftGame.config

Localizing images

Chunk layout

Intelligent Delivery

Install behavior

Testing with xbapp

See also

Related API documentation