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This is step 2 of the guided path. Before you start, complete ID@XBOX onboarding. Microsoft’s approval process grants you access to download the GDK. By the end of this page, you understand what the GDK is and have all the tools installed on your PC. You’ve also built one of Microsoft’s sample games to confirm your setup works.

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What is the GDK?

The Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK) is a free bundle of tools, code libraries, and documentation that Microsoft ships for building XBOX and Windows games. You install it on your Windows PC the same way you install any other program. The GDK contains three components:

Code libraries

C++ APIs for saves, sign-in, achievements, controllers, and audio. You call these from your game.

Visual Studio integration

Templates and build targets that let you create an XBOX game project the same way you create any other Visual Studio project.

Command-line tools

Utilities for packaging your game, deploying to a dev kit, and validating your build before submission.
The GDK is the current toolchain for shipping games on XBOX and the Microsoft Store. It replaces the older XDK and UWP toolchains.
The GDK glossary defines every acronym you encounter, and the API reference documents every function once you start coding.

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Install and verify

Install the GDK toolchain

Confirm your dev PC meets requirements, then install the Windows SDK, Visual Studio, and the GDK in that order.

Install the GDK

Requirements, prerequisites, and a step-by-step install.

Build a sample

Open a shipped GDK sample in Visual Studio and confirm your environment builds and deploys cleanly. This step verifies the toolchain end to end.

GDK samples

Reference samples that ship with the GDK.

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Next steps

After a sample builds and runs, create your own project.

Build your first title

Select a Visual Studio template and get your own GDK project running.
Last modified on August 4, 2026

Related topics

GDK samplesSecurity requirements for GDK licenseesXBOX Partner Onboarding for access and publishingXBOX Game Development DocumentationDevelop a new GDK title