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Version 1.0, 9/1/2020 Titles must provide a way for a user to earn all achievements defined by the base title without being required to purchase additional in-title content. Achievements must be unlocked through in-game actions, gameplay, and/or experiences. Game titles should not offer players direct achievement unlocks through alternative options without corresponding gameplay activity. Some disallowed options include:
  • A real-money purchase
  • In-game cheat codes
  • Console or menu options
These options may be used to reduce the difficulty of the gameplay required to unlock achievements. After an achievement has been published to users, it can’t be removed, nor can its unlock rules or rewards be changed. Achievement text (name and description) and art (icons and background) can be modified.

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More information

The intent of achievements is to award players based on their gameplay activity; not by making purchases or using in game ‘cheats’. Whether or not achievements can be unlocked while cheats are active is a decision left to the title developer. As you look to apply this requirement, consider the following examples:
  • An achievement for completing level 1 may be unlocked by a player who completes the level while using an infinite health cheat code. The player still had to complete the level. An achievement for completing level 1 may not be unlocked by using a cheat code that unlocks level 2, as the player has not completed level 1.
  • An achievement for starting level 2 may be unlocked for players who started level 2 by using a cheat code to unlock the level.
  • A real-money purchase may not have the primary benefit of unlocking an achievement.
  • Non-base Achievements can require content that is only unlocked by real-money purchases, but the act of purchasing the content may not be what unlocks the achievement.

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Certification test cases

057-01 No additional purchases required for base achievements
Test steps
  1. Review the achievement descriptions on the base title.
  2. Verify that they do not require additional purchases or content.
  3. Gain all achievements.
Expected result
All achievements can be gained without being required to purchase additional in-title content. Pass examples
  1. All achievements can be gained without being required to purchase additional in-title content.
  2. No achievements require additional in-title content.
Fail examples
  1. The user is required to purchase additional in-title content to unlock an achievement defined by the base title.
Last modified on October 20, 2026