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To develop and publish XBOX games, you must register as an XBOX partner and complete XBOX onboarding. Registering as an XBOX partner and applying to ID@XBOX is free and unlocks full XBOX development: the complete GDK feature set, XBOX services, dev kits, and permission to publish an XBOX game in the Microsoft Store on XBOX. This page describes every step in order, identifies the requirements for full XBOX development, and sets expectations for timing.

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What you sign up for

The workflow has four ordered steps:
  1. Register as an XBOX partner. Create your Microsoft account, sign in to the XBOX Partner Dashboard, submit your business information, and sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
  2. Enroll to Partner Center. Accept the App Developer Agreement (ADA), complete enrollment in the Windows and XBOX program, and record your Seller ID. Optionally, create or link a Microsoft Entra ID tenant.
  3. Join ID@XBOX. Submit your ID@XBOX application, submit a game concept for approval, and sign the Title Licensing Agreement (TLA) and Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK) License Agreement.
  4. Complete XBOX onboarding. Finish your Microsoft supplier (SupplierWeb) setup and get Entertainment Developer Store (EDS) access to order dev kits.
Plan for a minimum of two weeks from first application to a fully provisioned XBOX development environment. Timing varies based on Microsoft review cycles. Build this window into your production schedule; you can’t shorten it.

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At a glance

Where you start

The XBOX Partner Dashboard. Do not start in Partner Center or the Microsoft Store.

What you unlock

GDK documentation, GDK software downloads (SDS site), Partner Center publishing as an XBOX game, full XBOX services, and Entertainment Developer Store (EDS) access to order dev kits.

Why order matters

If you skip the XBOX partner registration flow, for example by creating a Partner Center account directly, role assignment breaks and you lose the permissions required to publish XBOX games and access secure XBOX resources.

Time to full onboarding

Two weeks minimum from first registration to a fully provisioned dev environment with dev kit access.

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Onboarding checklist

Copy this checklist into your project tracker, a Markdown file, or a shared document, and check items off as you complete them. The checklist mirrors the four steps below in order.
Onboarding checklist

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Before you begin

Prepare a new personal Microsoft account (MSA) created specifically for XBOX registration. Use a new personal MSA rather than reusing an existing MSA or a company MSA. This keeps your XBOX partner identity separate from other Microsoft services and prevents account ownership from being tied to one person’s personal history. You cannot use a company MSA to register for XBOX. Choose an email address that your studio maintains access to long term, such as a shared studio mailbox, rather than a personal address tied to one team member.
  • Create the account at account.microsoft.com. Use a private browser session if you’re already signed in elsewhere.
  • Enable two-factor authentication immediately.
Also have the following ready to keep the application moving:
  • Your studio details, including your legally registered business name and any doing business as (DBA) or trading name.
  • Your Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) Number, if you have one. Providing it speeds up business verification and unblocks the Partner Center identity check later.
  • A shipping address for XBOX development kits.

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Step 1: Register as an XBOX partner

In this step, you create your XBOX partner identity, submit your business information, and sign your Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

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Get started with XBOX game development

  1. Go to the XBOX Partner Dashboard.
  2. Select Get started.
  3. Sign in with the Microsoft account (MSA) you created for XBOX.
  4. Select Continue.

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Submit your XBOX onboarding information

After you sign in, you see the XBOX onboarding page. Here, you provide information about your studio, such as your business and contact information.
  1. Enter your partner name. This is the name of your studio, publisher, or developer identity. It’s the name you see across XBOX developer tools.
  2. Enter your legally registered business name with suffix (for example, LLC, GmbH, or SRL).
  3. Enter your contact details, such as your name, business title, and business address.
  4. Select Submit.
  5. The information is validated automatically. If necessary, follow the prompts to verify your address.

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Sign your NDA

After you submit your business information, you arrive at the XBOX Partner Dashboard. At this stage, the only available option is to sign a mutual NDA, which protects confidential information shared between XBOX and your studio. The NDA is sent to the email address you used to register and is typically received within 20 minutes. It can take up to three business days if your business information requires verification first.
  1. Locate the NDA email.
  2. Follow the prompts to review and sign the NDA.
  3. Return to the XBOX Partner Dashboard.
After you sign the NDA, it can take up to 24 hours to process.
If you can’t locate your NDA, check your junk/spam email folder. The NDA is sent by an electronic signature service provider, not from an @xbox.com or @microsoft.com email address.
To resend the NDA, go to the XBOX Partner Dashboard, select the ellipsis (…) icon, select Agreements, and then select Resend. Result: You’re registered as an XBOX partner and your NDA is signed. You’re ready to enroll to Partner Center.

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Step 2: Enroll to Partner Center

Partner Center is the portal you use to create and manage your XBOX games. Before you can enroll, you must review and accept the App Developer Agreement (ADA).
  1. Go to the XBOX Partner Dashboard and sign in with your Microsoft account (MSA).
  2. In the Enroll to Partner Center prompt, select the App Developer Agreement (ADA) link and review the agreement in full.
  3. When you’re ready, select the checkbox to accept the terms and conditions.
  4. Select Enroll.

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Enrollment outcomes

After you accept the ADA, XBOX automatically creates your Partner Center account.
  • If enrollment is successful, the XBOX Partner Dashboard displays your Seller ID and you’re ready to Apply to ID@XBOX.
  • If enrollment fails, you might be able to select Retry. XBOX will retry to create your Partner Center account.
  • If enrollment fails and can’t be retried, XBOX will investigate and contact you when it’s resolved.
When you enroll to Partner Center, Microsoft verifies the information you provide. Verification usually takes 3 to 5 business days. You can monitor the status in Partner Center under Account settings > Legal info. During this process, Microsoft might email your primary contact with a request for more information.Delays are most commonly caused by inaccurate or incomplete verification documents. Confirm that your submitted details exactly match your official business record before submitting.
Find your Seller ID in Partner Center under Account settings > Legal info > Developer.

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(Optional) Get started developing with the XBOX Game Development Kit

At any time after you provide your business information, sign the NDA, and enroll to Partner Center, you can start exploring the XBOX Game Development Kit (GDK) with limited capabilities:
  • You can only build and test in XBOX development sandboxes.
  • You can use XBOX identity and basic player features, including sign-in, presence, and some social features.
  • You can use XBOX cloud storage for game saves.
  • You can use XBOX multiplayer sessions and networking APIs.
  • You can’t use XBOX achievements or gamerscore.
  • You can’t publish to the RETAIL sandbox or submit for certification.
To get started, download the GDK. For more information about setting up your game in Partner Center, see Game creation and publishing in Partner Center. Before you can grant other studio members access to your Partner Center account and its games, you need to create or link an Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) tenant. Studio members also need a user account associated with Partner Center before they can access secure XBOX resources, including private documentation and secure GDK downloads.
  1. Sign in to Partner Center, select the gear icon, and select Account settings.
  2. On the Settings menu, select Tenants.
  3. Select Associate Microsoft Entra ID for an existing tenant, or Create Microsoft Entra ID for a new tenant:
    • For an existing tenant, sign in with the tenant credentials, review the domain on the confirmation page, and select Confirm.
    • For a new tenant, enter the email address to use, complete the wizard, and note the sign-in email and tenant ID shown on the confirmation dialog.
  4. On the Settings menu, select Users and add Entra users, assigning appropriate roles.
  5. Sign back in through Account Settings > User management > Sign in with Microsoft Entra ID and use this Entra account going forward.
For more information, see Manage users in your Partner Center account. Result: Your Partner Center account is created and linked to your XBOX partner registration, and your Seller ID is on file. You’re ready to apply to ID@XBOX.

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Step 3: Join ID@XBOX

Joining ID@XBOX creates a business relationship with XBOX and grants access to the tools, resources, and support you need to develop and publish games for XBOX consoles and XBOX on PC. In this step, you submit your ID@XBOX application, submit a game concept for approval, and sign your Title Licensing Agreement (TLA) and GDK License Agreement.

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Begin your ID@XBOX application

To begin your application, sign in to the XBOX Partner Dashboard and select Apply to ID@XBOX.
  1. Verify your contact details. These are the details you provided when you registered as an XBOX partner.
  2. If necessary, use the Other addresses section to provide a shipping address that’s different from your business address. This address is used for XBOX development kit hardware.
  3. Provide your business information, including:
    • Registered business number, such as a tax ID.
    • Whether you’re acting as a developer, publisher, or both.
    • Details about your studio presence, such as a website and public game trailers.
  4. If you’re ready, select Submit. Otherwise, select Save and close.
Developer or publisher? Select the role that matches how you’ll engage with Microsoft on this account. Developer is for studios building their own titles. Publisher is for organizations that submit and manage titles built by other developers, including third-party arrangements. This selection shapes the agreements you sign and the workflows available in Partner Center. If you’ll do both, developer is usually the right starting point.

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Submit a game concept

An approved game concept is required for all XBOX games. To continue your ID@XBOX application, you must submit at least one game concept for approval. Make sure your concept accurately represents your intended final game and that your content is appropriate for XBOX. For more information, see Game concepts.
  1. In the Game concepts section of the XBOX Partner Dashboard, select Create game concept. If you already started a game concept, select the draft concept from the list.
  2. Complete the game concept form, including:
    • The developer and publisher for your game.
    • Your game’s key features and a description.
    • Your target release date, and any actual release dates on other platforms.
    • The platforms your game releases on.
    • Your game’s market availability and pricing.
    • The XBOX network functionality and User Generated Content (UGC) capabilities your game supports.
    • Supplementary material, such as gameplay videos or trailers.
  3. When you’re ready, select Submit. Otherwise, select Save and close.
The XBOX team reviews new concepts every business day (Monday to Friday), but it can take up to 3 weeks (typically 10 to 15 business days) to complete the review and provide a decision.
You can submit up to 10 concepts for review in parallel. You don’t have to wait for the first decision before submitting the next.
After we review your concept, you receive an email with the outcome:
  • If your concept is approved, you receive a confirmation email and the agreements you need to sign to continue.
  • If we need more information, we let you know what we need before you can move forward. Return to the XBOX Partner Dashboard, make changes, and resubmit.
  • If your concept is rejected, we let you know that your game isn’t approved for release on XBOX. If you’re building multiple games, you can submit a different concept for review.

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Sign your Title Licensing and GDK License Agreements

When your concept is approved, the approval email includes two agreements to review and sign:
  • Title Licensing Agreement (TLA): Establishes the terms of your concept approval under your licensing agreement with Microsoft.
  • Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK) License Agreement: Covers your use of GDK hardware and software.
Sign each agreement using the instructions in the approval email. You need to sign both agreements to complete your application to ID@XBOX. Result: Your application to ID@XBOX is complete and you join the program. Your Partner Center account receives the permissions necessary for full XBOX development and publishing, and the ID@XBOX team continues onboarding your studio for dev kit hardware and royalty payouts. Signing the GDK License Agreement also provisions your Entertainment Developer Store (EDS) account for dev kit ordering.

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Step 4: Complete XBOX onboarding

In this final onboarding step, you finish setting up your studio’s business presence with XBOX. These steps are required to enable royalty payouts for your games and to grant access to order XBOX development kits. After you join ID@XBOX, look out for emails from the ID@XBOX team. These emails include information about registering as a Microsoft supplier and how to access the Entertainment Developer Store (EDS).

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Complete your Microsoft supplier setup (SupplierWeb)

Before you can publish XBOX games in the Microsoft Store, your studio must be set up as a registered Microsoft supplier (payee). Registering as a Microsoft supplier is required for payments relating to your XBOX products. For more information about payment terms, review your licensing agreement with Microsoft. After you register for ID@XBOX, you receive an email inviting you to complete your supplier registration.
  1. Go to Microsoft SupplierWeb and select Sign in.
  2. Sign in with the email address that received the invitation. ID@XBOX configures this address as your studio’s SupplierWeb admin.
  3. Provide the required information and select Submit.
    • Select USD (US Dollars) as the currency type.
    • If you’re not the right contact for tax or bank information, add another user to complete the process.
  4. After account creation is complete, you receive an email that confirms your supplier account number.
Account creation takes 24 to 48 hours.
Sign in to SupplierWeb at least once every 60 days. Otherwise, your account can be deactivated.
If you didn’t receive the supplier registration invitation, or you can’t locate it, contact ID Setup to request a new one.

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Get Entertainment Developer Store (EDS) access to order dev kits

To order XBOX development kits, you need an account on the Entertainment Developer Store (EDS). Your EDS account is created after you sign the GDK License Agreement. The ID@XBOX team opens your EDS account using the business address you provided as the primary bill-to and ship-to address. After the account opens, the team makes your first kits available to order. If you require more kits than are available, contact ID Setup.
Opening the EDS account takes about a week.
Place your dev kit order in EDS. When your order ships, you receive a tracking number. Delivery normally follows within a week of payment processing. If it doesn’t, contact ID Setup so they can investigate. Result: Your XBOX onboarding is complete. You can order XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One dev kits, and your studio is set up to receive royalty payouts.

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After onboarding: create your first product and enable full XBOX services

Once every prior step is complete, you can:
  • Read the protected GDK documentation.
  • Download GDK software from the SDS site. See Install the GDK.
  • Access additional developer resources.

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Create your first product in Partner Center

With Partner Center provisioned, reserve a product so you can start configuration:
  1. Go to Apps and games > New product > Game.
  2. Enter the game name and select Reserve product name.
  3. On the Game overview page, select Retail in the Desktop row. Sandboxes is selected automatically.
  4. Select Save draft.
Record the values under Game setup > Identity details. You’ll paste them into your MicrosoftGame.config later. For step-by-step game setup tutorials, see Game setup overview.

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Request product onboarding to enable full XBOX services

New products default to limited XBOX services, the same feature set available while you’re exploring the GDK. In this state, you can build, test in dev sandboxes, and use XBOX identity, cloud saves, and multiplayer. Achievements, gamerscore, and the rest of the full XBOX services feature set stay disabled until the XBOX team onboards your product. To move from limited to full XBOX services, send your game’s Microsoft Store ID (from Game setup > Identity details) to your XBOX support team:
Subject: Need to enable game for XBOX services Body: Please onboard my Partner Center product for full XBOX services. The Microsoft Store ID is <your-store-id>.
Once your product is onboarded, return to Game setup and select Use full XBOX services feature set. Without this step, achievements, gamerscore, and other full XBOX services APIs are not available at runtime. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see Create a game and configure game setup.

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Pitch your game for funding opportunities

After you join ID@XBOX and have an approved game concept, you can pitch your game to XBOX for strategic funding opportunities, including XBOX Game Pass and the Developer Acceleration Program. For more information, see Pitch your game for funding opportunities.

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Timeline summary

Fold onboarding into your pre-production planning. You don’t have to line it up perfectly with concept approval. You can start exploring the GDK right after you enroll to Partner Center and handle ID@XBOX concept approval later. This is useful when a game is too early in pre-production to have the content and quality confidence needed for concept approval.

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Common pitfalls

This is the most common cause of a broken onboarding. If you create a Partner Center account directly instead of enrolling from the XBOX Partner Dashboard, Partner Center doesn’t link it to your XBOX partner registration. It also doesn’t automatically apply the permissions you need to publish XBOX games and access secure XBOX resources.Recovery: Don’t create a second account, even if the XBOX Partner Dashboard prompts you to. Contact ID Setup with your existing Partner Center account’s Seller ID, which you can find under Account settings > Legal info > Developer. ID Setup can link the account to your XBOX partner registration and apply the correct permissions.Prevention: Always enroll to Partner Center from the XBOX Partner Dashboard, not by going to Partner Center directly.
Onboarding is not instant. Concept reviews run every business day, but a decision can take up to three weeks. Contracts require signature cycles, and permissioning runs as a background job. Build at least two weeks of buffer into your schedule before you need a fully provisioned XBOX dev environment.
Microsoft gates most of the dependency chain (concept approval, contracts, Partner Center, permissions, Entra ID, and full XBOX services enablement) until you already have access. Bookmark this page and use it as the checklist while you wait.
Even after you download the GDK and configure Partner Center, new games start with limited XBOX services by default. Before you can move to the full feature set, including achievements and gamerscore, you must request product onboarding by sending your game’s Microsoft Store ID to your XBOX support team.
Getting the GDK and shipping a game are separate. You must complete Microsoft supplier registration in SupplierWeb before Microsoft can list your title for sale or pay you for XBOX products. Microsoft blocks publishing until this is in place. Sign in at least once every 60 days to keep the account active. If you didn’t receive the supplier invitation email or can’t find it, contact ID Setup to resend it.
Adding a DUNS Number up front speeds up the 3 to 5 business day verification window during Partner Center enrollment. If your account verification takes longer than 5 business days, or your verification is rejected and you want to appeal, contact ID Account Management.

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Next steps

With XBOX onboarding complete, you have everything you need to download the GDK, install the toolchain, and start building.

Set up and install the GDK

Step 2 of the guided path. Install Visual Studio, the Windows SDK, and the GDK on your dev PC.

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See also

Last modified on August 11, 2026

Related topics

Access GDK resources and downloadsSet up your organization in Partner CenterSecurity requirements for GDK licenseesDeveloper Account