Rider 2026.1: More AI Choice, Stronger .NET Tooling, and Expanded Game Dev Support | The .NET Tools Blog

Rider 2026.1 introduces significant advancements in .NET development, game development workflows, and AI integration, enhancing the overall IDE experience. Developers can now run standalone C# programs, inspect .NET disassemblies, and manage NuGet packages with ease. Game developers benefit from improved support for Unreal Engine and Unity, including enhanced performance analysis and debugging capabilities. The release also expands AI-assisted workflows, allowing for seamless integration with various AI tools and agents, such as GitHub Copilot. Additionally, Rider 2026.1 offers better Azure DevOps integration, smoother MAUI iOS development on Windows, and introduces Beta support for CMake-based C++ projects. With strengthened language support for C# and F#, the update brings notable improvements to both coding efficiency and debugging processes, providing a robust environment for developers across different domains.