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Welcome to XBOX! Before you can develop XBOX games, you need to register as an XBOX partner. This overview guides you through the onboarding journey from start to finish. After you register as an XBOX partner, you can apply to join the ID@XBOX program. Joining ID@XBOX grants access to the tools, resources, and support that creators need to develop, publish, and grow their games on XBOX. Whether you’re a solo developer or a large publishing studio, XBOX has the right programs to help you launch your game, reach millions of players, and collaborate with the XBOX developer community.
There are no fees to register as an XBOX partner or to apply to ID@XBOX.

Before you begin

To help your application move quickly, make sure you have the following information available.
  • A new personal Microsoft account (MSA) created specifically for ID@XBOX registration. Don’t reuse a personal MSA that you already use for other Microsoft services.
  • Your studio details, including your legally registered business name and any trading (doing business as) name.
  • Your Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) Number, if you have one. Providing it speeds up business verification.
  • A shipping address for XBOX development kits.
Before enrolling, review Verify Partner Center account to prepare the evidence needed for account verification.

Onboarding steps

Complete the following steps in order. Each step links to a detailed article.
  1. Register as an XBOX partner: Create your Microsoft account, sign in to the XBOX Partner Dashboard, and submit your business information.
  2. Enroll to Partner Center: Accept the App Developer Agreement (ADA), complete enrollment, and verify your Partner Center account before submitting game information. You can also create or link a Microsoft Entra ID tenant for user access management.
  3. Join ID@XBOX: Submit game information, link your Partner Center game product, and sign the applicable agreements.
  4. Complete XBOX onboarding: Finish your Microsoft Vendor (supplier) setup and gain access to the Entertainment Developer Store (EDS) so you can order XBOX development kits.
After you complete XBOX onboarding, you can create XBOX games in Partner Center, enable XBOX services, and begin developing your game by using the GDK. For tutorials, see Game creation and publishing in Partner Center. You can also 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.

How long does onboarding take?

Timelines vary with account verification, agreement completion, and any required manual policy review. Here’s a general guide to the onboarding stages. Want to start developing sooner? At any time after you provide your business information, sign the NDA, and enroll to Partner Center, you can start exploring the Game Development Kit (GDK). Use your Partner Center account to create a GDK game with limited XBOX services for development in secure sandboxes. Limited services don’t support RETAIL publishing or XBOX achievements. To continue onboarding for full services, follow Submit game information.

Next steps

Common issues and troubleshooting

If you have issues when you register as an XBOX partner, review the following information for common troubleshooting tips. If you created your Partner Center account before you registered as an XBOX partner, your account is automatically linked to your XBOX partner application during the onboarding process. If you didn’t create a Partner Center account already, wait to create one until the XBOX Partner Dashboard prompts you to do so.

I can’t access the secure GDK downloads and documentation, XBOX policies, or Partner Center.

Access to secure resources requires a user account associated with a Partner Center account onboarded for XBOX. If your XBOX onboarding is still in progress, check the XBOX Partner Dashboard to understand your next step. If you completed XBOX onboarding, sign-in using a Microsoft account associated with your Partner Center account when you access secure resources. If you’re still unable to access the resources, contact your XBOX support team.

I’m not ready to submit game information. Can I still start to develop my game for XBOX?

Yes. Follow the early development guidance under Want to start developing sooner?. You can submit game information and complete the applicable agreements when you’re ready to continue onboarding.

I want to use full XBOX services with my game, but I can’t enable them in Partner Center. How do I get access?

Confirm that you have submitted the game information form in the Onboarding hub, linked the correct Partner Center game product, and signed all applicable publishing agreements. If services are still unavailable, contact your XBOX support team with the game’s Store ID, available under Identity details in Game setup. For a step-by-step tutorial, see Create a game and configure game setup.
Last modified on November 13, 2026