GDC Mobile: Microsoft makes handheld games move

Firm's portable MP3 player Zune welcomes its first games titles; compatibility with XNA output revealed.

During the firm's keynote at GDC today, Microsoft revealed that its Zune portable music player was staking a claim in the handheld gaming space by being able to play games made using XNA Game Studio.

The move puts the device up again Apple's iPod range, which is being supported by titles from a clutch of mobile game developers.

XNA general manager Chris Satchell demonstrated the portability of code between Zune, Xbox 360 and Games for Windows platforms, saying games could be developed on PC using XNA Game Studio and then loaded onto others.

To read the story in full, head over to MCV sister site and the first stop for all GDC releated news, Develop.