Microsoft has released version 2.0 of its XNA Game Studio, which enables game developers to create cross-platform games for Xbox Live and Games for Windows - Live. Version 2.0 is based on XNA Game Studio Express and, according to Microsoft includes "more than" 15 new features.

"Many of Live’s best features are supported by XNA Game Studio 2.0 with minimal to no coding necessary to activate them - features like matchmaking, which uses LIVE to find the best games for you to play based on your location and internet connection. Additionally, XNA Game Studio 2.0 fully supports game development with all versions of the Microsoft Visual Studio product line," Microsoft wrote in its press release.

The company said that XNA Game Studio has been downloaded 750,000 times so far.