> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://devdocs.xbox.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add backend services with PlayFab

> Pair your GDK title with PlayFab early to get identity, multiplayer, leaderboards, economy, and live operations without hosting your own servers.

Pair your GDK title with [PlayFab](/services/playfab/get-started) early. PlayFab is Microsoft's backend-as-a-service for games and provides identity, multiplayer, leaderboards, economy, and live operations without hosting your own servers.

## Why add PlayFab now

* **Cross-platform identity:** Link XBOX, Steam, PSN, mobile, and custom logins under a single PlayFab player account.
* **Live game services:** Leaderboards, statistics, player segments, scheduled tasks, and A/B experiments.
* **Multiplayer infrastructure:** PlayFab [Lobby, Matchmaking, and Party](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby) for cross-platform play.
* **Economy:** Catalog v2, Inventory v2, and Microsoft Store reconciliation through [Economy v2](/services/playfab/economy-monetization/economy).
* **Analytics:** PlayStream events, dashboards, and Insights through [Analytics](/services/playfab/data-analytics).

## Get started

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a PlayFab title">
    Sign in at [developer.playfab.com](https://developer.playfab.com) and create a title. Record the **Title ID**. You pass it to the SDK.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install the PlayFab GDK SDK">
    Add the [PlayFab GDK SDK](https://github.com/PlayFab/XPlatCppSdk) to your project. It links cleanly alongside XSAPI and shares libHttpClient.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in players with XBOX identity">
    Call `LoginWithXbox` from the PlayFab Authentication API using the XSTS token your title already acquires through [`XUser`](/reference/system/xuser/xuser_members). PlayFab creates or links a master account on the first call.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the services you need">
    Add Economy, Lobby, Matchmaking, Leaderboards, or Analytics as your design requires. Each service is opt-in.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## When PlayFab is optional

If your title only needs XBOX-side features (achievements, presence, social, MPSD multiplayer, or Game Chat 2), you can ship without PlayFab using [XBOX services](/services/xbox-services/index) directly. Most live, cross-platform titles still benefit from PlayFab.

## Next steps

You have a project building and a plan for backend services. Select the curated path that matches what you're shipping.

<Card title="Getting started guides" icon="arrow-right" href="/paths/porting/overview">
  Seven curated paths that lead into Build, Develop, Services, and Publishing.
</Card>

## See also

* [PlayFab overview](/services/playfab/get-started)
* [PlayFab identity](/services/playfab/identity)
* [Integrate Microsoft Store purchases with PlayFab Economy](/services/playfab/economy-monetization/economy)


## Related topics

- [PlayFab Services for Backend Services and Tools](/services/playfab/sdks/platforms/services.md)
- [PlayFab integration for XBOX services titles](/services/xbox-services/playfab-integration.md)
- [Quickstart PlayFab REST API collection for Postman](/services/playfab/sdks/postman/postman-quickstart.md)
- [Godot & Community Engines overview](/paths/community-engines/overview.md)
- [Game servers from title entity](/services/playfab/sdks/c/server.md)