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Playtest enables game creators to run in-development content on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, and PC for controlled groups of real players. Studios can test content before or after their game's commercial release, on retail hardware and against XBOX services, without requiring the main game to be published in the Microsoft Store.
Playtest scenarios
Use Playtest to put in-development content in front of the people who need to evaluate it. Common scenarios include:
- Press reviews: Send review copies to journalists and the press ahead of your game's launch or a major update.
- Closed player feedback: Invite selected community members to try early builds and help your team evaluate gameplay and multiplayer experiences.
- Distributed QA: Let remote QA teams test in-development content on retail consoles and PCs.
- Design experiments: Have different groups try alternative builds or game modes to inform design decisions.
- Post-release content testing: Let invited players try upcoming content and updates before a broader rollout.
Availability and requirements
Playtest supports testing before and after a game's commercial release.
- Platforms: XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, and PC. A playtest can include a PC package and a console package for one console generation. To target both XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S, create a playtest for each console generation. The same users can be invited to both and select the playtest for their hardware.
- Eligibility: You need a Partner Center account set up to develop games for XBOX. No separate Playtest access request is required.
- Ratings: A playtest uses the associated game's International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) ratings from the Age ratings module in Partner Center.
- Packages: Packages must already be uploaded to Partner Center and meet the platform-specific upload-date requirements.
- Audience access: Developers grant tester access through known-user audience groups.
- Tester experience: Newly added testers must sign out and sign back in to see playtests in their Libraries on console and PC. Deep links are also supported and don't require this sign-in refresh.
- Distribution: Playtests are private, unmonetized, and undiscoverable in the Microsoft Store.
- Audience size: Each playtest supports up to 10,000 players.
- XBOX services: Full XBOX services are optional on console and PC unless the playtest uses XBOX sign-in or other XBOX network features. A playtest that uses XBOX services uses the associated game's configuration in the RETAIL sandbox.
For setup requirements and step-by-step instructions, see Use Playtest. For current limitations and workarounds, see Known issues.
Token-based access (coming soon)
Token-based access is coming soon and isn't available yet. Until then, use known-user audience groups to grant tester access.
How Playtest works
The Playtest workflow has four parts:
- Create: Configure a playtest for a game in Partner Center, including its schedule, packages, and audience.
- Publish: Publish the playtest independently of the main game's Store listing and commercial release.
- Distribute and iterate: Grant tester access and direct testers to the playtest in their Library or share a deep link. Update packages or configuration as testing progresses.
- Shut down: Access is revoked automatically when the playtest's configured end date and time is reached. You can also end the playtest manually when testing is complete.
Playtest packages are encrypted and licensed independently of the main game. Publishing or shutting down a playtest doesn't modify the main game's Store listing, pricing, availability, or existing player entitlements.
Get started
To use Playtest:
- Review the prerequisites for a playtest.
- Open Playtest in Partner Center.
- Create and publish a playtest.
- Share the playtest with eligible testers.