> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.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](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/get-started.md) 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](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby.md) for cross-platform play.
* **Economy:** Catalog v2, Inventory v2, and Microsoft Store reconciliation through [Economy v2](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/economy-monetization/economy.md).
* **Analytics:** PlayStream events, dashboards, and Insights through [Analytics](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/data-analytics.md).

## Get started

**1. 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.

**2. 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.

**3. Sign in players with XBOX identity**

Call `LoginWithXbox` from the PlayFab Authentication API using the XSTS token your title already acquires through [`XUser`](https://docs.xbox.com/reference/system/xuser/xuser_members). PlayFab creates or links a master account on the first call.

**4. Select the services you need**

Add Economy, Lobby, Matchmaking, Leaderboards, or Analytics as your design requires. Each service is opt-in.

## 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](https://docs.xbox.com/services/xbox-services/index.md) 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] [Getting started guides](https://docs.xbox.com/paths/porting/overview.md)
>
> Seven curated paths that lead into Build, Develop, Services, and Publishing.

## See also

* [PlayFab overview](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/get-started.md)
* [PlayFab identity](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/identity.md)
* [Integrate Microsoft Store purchases with PlayFab Economy](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/economy-monetization/economy.md)


## Related topics

- [PlayFab Services for Backend Services and Tools](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/sdks/platforms/services.md)
- [PlayFab integration for XBOX services titles](https://docs.xbox.com/services/xbox-services/playfab-integration.md)
- [Quickstart PlayFab REST API collection for Postman](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/sdks/postman/postman-quickstart.md)
- [Godot & Community Engines overview](https://docs.xbox.com/paths/community-engines/overview.md)
- [What is PlayFab?](https://docs.xbox.com/services/playfab/get-started/what-is-playfab.md)