Enable cross-generation XBOX services functionality
Because dual SKU cross-generation games are separate game products, by default they have separate XBOX services configurations. However, some publishers, who choose to sell each generation’s title separately, take the user-friendly steps to keep their user base unified and retain a user’s progress across the console generation boundaries. It’s possible for an eligible XBOX One game product and an eligible XBOX Series X|S game product to share a single XBOX services configuration. This results in one XBOX services configuration that’s used by two separate games that share the following features.- Title ID
- Official club
- Achievements
- Leaderboards
- Multiplayer
- Presence
Although cross-generation multiplayer is shared by default, dual SKU games that enable XBOX services configuration sharing aren’t required to support cross-generation multiplayer. However, we recommend instituting cross-generation multiplayer where possible.
- If you have a released XBOX One game, you need to create and enable a new XBOX Series X|S product to share the existing XBOX services configuration.
- If you have a released XBOX Series X|S game, you need to create and enable a new XBOX One product to share the existing XBOX services configuration.
- If you’re creating a new XBOX One product and a new XBOX Series X|S product, both products will share the same XBOX services configurations.
Backward compatibility of the XBOX One SKU
To develop dual SKU cross-generation games, you need to consider the backward compatibility of the XBOX One SKU when it’s played on XBOX Series consoles. For more information about backward compatibility of XBOX One titles on XBOX Series X|S, see Backcompat only titles.Create discs for cross-generation bundles
A dual SKU cross-generation game can be packaged as a cross-generation bundle that includes the separate XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S editions in a single purchase. These bundles are sold digitally and on retail discs.Best practices
Use the following best practices to properly package your cross-generation bundle to relieve marketplace confusion and user stress.- Specify a subset of each package that you want to include on the disc to reduce network installations. Consider which parts of your game are most critical to getting users into your game as quickly as possible. Determine which parts can be downloaded later or in the background. For more information, see Intelligent Delivery introduction.
- Create a multi-disc package to maximize the amount of content that’s available to install directly from disc to minimize network installations.
- Don’t create separate XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S discs for the same Amaray case. Instead, use the multi-disc solution to include additional downloadable content (DLC) discs while gating access to both games through one licensed disc. This constrains the user to a single license even when they’re physically purchasing a game bundle. For more information, see Make package (makepkg.exe).
- Don’t include stub packages on a disc. This is a violation of XR-003: Title Quality for Submission. If your XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S binaries aren’t ready for submission at the time that you want to manufacture discs, you can create a physical bundle retail SKU that contains a generation-specific game disc and a digital code. The user can redeem the code online to access the other generation-specific edition when it becomes available.
[!NOTE] This grants the user a physical disc license to one edition and a digital license to the other edition.