Error building project when referencing native assembly dependency in app.manifest

If you’re using an app.manifest, and defining assembly dependencies (i.e. for SxS / Side by side / Reg-free COM etc), you may encounter this error when you build the project:

Could not find file ‘AssemblyName, Version=x.x.x.x, PublicKeyToken=xxxxxxxxxxx, ProcessorArchitecture=x86, Type=win32′.

This is even when the native assembly is in place where the project can find it.

Example

For example, . . . → Read More: Error building project when referencing native assembly dependency in app.manifest