- Use a client-side API called XBOX services API or XSAPI. It’s also known as XBOX Live API.
- Call the XBOX services REST endpoints directly. They’re also known as XBOX Live REST endpoints.
Advantages of using XSAPI
The advantages of using the XBOX services API (XSAPI) include:- Details of authentication, encoding, and HTTP sending and receiving are taken care of for you.
- Arguments to, and data returned from, the wrapper API is handled in native data types. You don’t need to perform JSON encoding and decoding.
- Calling web services directly involves multiple asynchronous steps, which the wrapper API encapsulates. This makes title code easier to read and write.
- Some functionality, such as writing game events, is only available in XSAPI.
Advantages of using XBOX services REST endpoints
The advantages of using the XBOX services REST endpoints directly include:- The ability to call XBOX services endpoints from a web service.
- The ability to call endpoints that aren’t included in XSAPI. It only includes APIs that we believe games will use. If there’s anything missing, contact us via the forums.
- Some functionality available via the REST endpoints might not have a corresponding XSAPI wrapper.
Client-side API set
XSAPI exposes client-side APIs that support a wide range of customer scenarios. Important: For GDK development, use only the XSAPI C-based API. XSAPI WinRT and C++11 APIs are included here for your information only.- XSAPI C-based API (GDK); new as of June 2018
- XSAPI WinRT API (XDK and XBOX Creators program only)
- XSAPI C++11 based API (XDK and XBOX Creators program only)
XSAPI C-based API
- Supports PC and XBOX console GDK titles.
- Allows titles to control the memory allocations when calling XSAPI.
- Allows titles to gain full control of thread handling when calling XSAPI.
- Uses a new HTTP library, libHttpClient, designed for game developers.