How to configure a product to be hidden and purchasable

Important

The product configuration described below can be accessible via “web scraping” (or data scraping) technology before the first scheduled date. If this isn't your intent, please utilize the Private Audience or Disable Store Presence options to protect your product’s listing up until the first scheduled date.

With Private Audience, your Product Details Page (PDP) is only visible to a user group of your choosing, and it offers the ability to schedule when the product’s availability transitions from private to public. See Visibility - Audiences for more information.

With Disable Store Presence, the product won't have a PDP, be testable, or be redeemable via token until your first scheduled date. See the Disable store presence section for more information.

Definition

This scenario is a hidden release with the following properties.

  • Product can't be found in search results in the Microsoft Store.
  • Product isn't displayed in automatically populated product categories in the Microsoft Store.
  • Product can be accessed by any user who has a direct link to the product (web URL or app URI).
    • Note: Direct links to the product can be web scraped and are available via a user's purchase history.
  • Product is purchasable.
    • Users can purchase the product by following a direct link to the product or if it's enumerated via the in-game store.
  • Product can be acquired by redemption of a Promotional Code.

Products this applies to

  • Game
  • Game Demo
  • Bundle
  • Add-On Bundle
  • Season Pass
  • Consumable
  • Durable/Durable with Packages

Configuration for Game, Game Demo, Game bundle, Add-on bundle, and Season Pass

  1. Go to Partner Center.
  2. Locate the product that you want to configure.
  3. Select the Pricing and availability module from the product page navigation.
  4. If required, in the Visibility section, enable and configure Private Audience. For more information, see Visibility - Audiences.
  5. In the Discoverability section, select Make this product available but not discoverable in the Microsoft Store, and: and then select Direct link only.
    • Note: With this configuration, it's not possible to configure a Schedule. The product will become accessible by using the direct link immediately after publishing.
  6. In the Pricing section, configure pricing as required.
    • Note: You can't configure pricing for Game Demo products.
  7. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and then select Save draft.
  8. When you're ready, select Review and Publish to publish your changes to your development sandbox or RETAIL.

Configuration for Consumable and Durable/Durable with Packages products with a Store listing

  1. Go to Partner Center.
  2. Locate the product that you want to configure.
  3. Select the Pricing and availability module from the product page navigation.
  4. If required, in the Visibility section, enable and configure Private Audience. For more information, see Visibility - Audiences.
  5. In the Discoverability section, select Accessible only by direct link.
    • Note: With this configuration, it's not possible to configure a Schedule. The product will become accessible by using the direct link immediately after publishing.
  6. In the Purchasability section, select Can be purchased (from within the parent product only and from its own Microsoft Store listing).
  7. In the Pricing section, configure pricing as required.
  8. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and then select Save draft.
  9. When you're ready, select Review and Publish to publish your changes to your development sandbox or RETAIL.

Configuration for Consumable and Durable/Durable with Packages products without a Store listing

  1. Go to Partner Center.
  2. Locate the product that you want to configure.
  3. Select the Pricing and availability module from the product page navigation.
  4. If required, in the Visibility section, enable and configure Private Audience. For more information, see Visibility - Audiences.
  5. In the Purchasability section, select Can be purchased (from within the parent product only).
  6. If required, configure the Schedule section by selecting Show options and then specify the Release date and time and the Stop acquisition date and time.
  7. In the Pricing section, configure pricing as required.
  8. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and then select Save draft.
  9. When you're ready, select Review and Publish to publish your changes to your development sandbox or RETAIL.

See also

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