Today, we officially released Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express, and we launched the XNA Creators Club. 

The final code has been posted to http://www.msdn.com/XNA, and anyone with Windows XP can download it for free. 

Also available now, the XNA Creators Club has been posted to Xbox Live Marketplace for $49 (U.S.) for a four-month subscription, or $99 (U.S.) for an annual subscription. Both subscriptions provide access to thousands of game assets from Microsoft and key supporters such as Turbo Squid Inc., as well as white papers, specialized starter kits, samples and technical product support.

XNA supporter GarageGames has launched an open beta for its Torque X platform, including Torque Game Builder. Based on the XNA Framework, the Torque X tools bring drag-and-drop game development to Windows and Xbox 360. Final availability of the Torque X platform is scheduled for early 2007.

To celebrate the worldwide launch of XNA Game Studio Express, the “Dream-Build-Play” contest will be open to XNA Game Studio Express customers on Windows as well as those on Xbox 360 through the XNA Creators Club membership. The contest offers the opportunity to showcase your innovation and talent to the world.  The winner's game will be published on Xbox Live Arcade.  The contest will be launched in January. Additional contest details will be available at http://www.dreambuildplay.com.

More details are in the XNA Team Blog, and in the press release. 

Plus, there are a couple of recent videos worth watching on Channel 9: XNA Studio Express Part One and Part Two.