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This article describes how to create an XBOX game and configure the Game setup page in Partner Center.

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Prerequisites

  • Enrollment as an XBOX creator. To learn more, see XBOX Creator Onboarding.
  • Active Partner Center account. If you don’t have an account yet, contact your XBOX team.
  • Approved Game Concept for your product. To learn more, see Submit game concepts.
If you can’t reserve a name for which you hold the trademark or other legal right, or if you see another app in the Microsoft Store using that name, contact Microsoft.

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Device family availability

The Device family availability section lets you control which devices your game support. By default, only the Desktop device family is active.
  • Retail is required for publishing to the RETAIL sandbox. If you select this option, the system automatically selects the sandboxes option.
  • Sandboxes is required for publishing to a development sandbox.
  • For more information, see Sandboxes.
For XBOX games, the XBOX device family is active only after you enable XBOX services. Configure this section after you request product onboarding.

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Request product onboarding

XBOX creators need to send the Store ID for new game products to their XBOX contacts for onboarding. This process grants access to full XBOX services and features in Partner Center.
1

Go to the Game setup page for your game.

Go to the Game setup page for your game.
2

In the Identity details section, select Show details.

In the Identity details section, select Show details.
3

Copy the Store ID value.

Copy the Store ID value.
4

To request product onboarding, send an email to your XBOX contacts.

To request product onboarding, send an email to your XBOX contacts.
  • Subject Product onboarding request: <Product name>—<Store ID>—<Creator name>
  • Body I’d like to request product onboarding for the following product:
    <Product name>
    <Store ID>

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Configure Game setup

If you’re already on the Game setup page, go to step 5.
1

Sign in to Partner Center.

Sign in to Partner Center.
2

Select the Apps and games workspace from the Home page.

Select the Apps and games workspace from the Home page. The Apps and games | Overview page appears.
3

On the Apps and games | Overview page, use Search to find and select ...

On the Apps and games | Overview page, use Search to find and select your game.
4

Select Game setup from the left navigation pane.

Select Game setup from the left navigation pane.
5

Select Enable full XBOX services.

Select Enable full XBOX services.
6

In the Device family availability section, select Sandboxes for each ...

In the Device family availability section, select Sandboxes for each device family your game supports. You can also select Retail now, or select it later when you want to publish the game to the RETAIL sandbox.
  • Select Desktop if you’re developing an XBOX on PC game.
  • Select XBOX if you’re developing an XBOX console game.
7

In the Primary XBOX services development sandbox section, select a develo...

In the Primary XBOX services development sandbox section, select a development sandbox.
  • If you need to create a new development sandbox, first select Manage sandboxes.
  • For more information, see Sandboxes.
8

Select Show details in the Identity details section.

Select Show details in the Identity details section.
9

Note the identifiers and links.

Note the identifiers and links. The Store ID, Package manifest values, and Package family values are especially important since they identify the title and build by the Store. They’re also used to license your game. To learn more about the identifiers, select the information icon next to it.
10

After configuring and reviewing the Game setup page, select Save draft.

After configuring and reviewing the Game setup page, select Save draft.
Full XBOX services are enabled for the game. After a few minutes, XBOX services is available on the page navigation. Refresh your browser page to see the new menu options.

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Enabling XBOX Play Anywhere (XPA) Unified Entitlement for XBOX games on PC and Console

If you’re developing an XBOX Play Anywhere game, select both the XBOX and Desktop device families in the Device family availability. When a customer purchases your game, they automatically get the entitlement to download and play the game on XBOX consoles and XBOX on PC. This entitlement is called XBOX Unified Entitlement. Don’t create separate games for PC and Console if you’re supporting XPA.

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Next steps

Create and upload a game package

Last modified on August 20, 2026