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Important
This article describes features that require enrollment as an XBOX creator. To get started, register for ID@XBOX. If you're already enrolled but aren't able to use the described features, speak to your XBOX contactsAuthorization required.
Before the release of your product, you might want to make it available for players to pre-order. Follow the guidance on this page for information about submitting a pre-order plan for approval, configuring pre-order products, and making changes to pre-orders.
The Microsoft Store offers the capability to pre-order Game, Game bundle, and Durable add-on products. You can create editions of your products specifically for pre-order purposes, or you can configure a pre-order period for the products that you release for general availability.
Before you begin
Review the following considerations before configuring pre-orders for your product.
- Before you can publish a pre-order configuration, all product types that require packages, including Games and Durables with Packages, require a Package that passes certification.
- All pre-order products must have a confirmed release date. It's not possible to configure a pre-order using a temporary or placeholder release date.
- You should let your XBOX contacts know your pre-order plans at least three weeks before your pre-order begins.
- We recommend having a robust plan to inform customers about the reasons to pre-order and availability of pre-order products.
For more information, see the XBOX Games Store Policies in the XBOX Publisher Guide.
Note
If pre-order isn't suitable for your game, consider setting up a Game wishlist page.
Submitting a pre-order plan
As an XBOX creator, you should submit your pre-order and SKU plans for approval. We recommend sharing your plans with your XBOX contacts at least three weeks before your pre-order begins to allow sufficient time for review.
For more information about sharing a SKU plan for review, see SKU planning.
Publishing requirements
To publish a pre-order, each of your product's modules in Partner Center must be completed, and Store Listings, Pricing and Availability, and Packages (if applicable) must be certified. If you're configuring a pre-order bundle, the Game bundle product and the included products must have the Partner Center modules completed and certified. Ensure you create your products and configure the required information early to allow yourself time to complete these steps.
Consider using the configuration options available in Partner Center, such as Private Audience and XBOX Embargo, to prevent unintended visibility of the products before the pre-order begins.
Considerations for Game pre-orders
All Game products made available for pre-order in the Microsoft Store require:
- A certified Package.
- Published XBOX services. The XBOX services configuration includes your achievements, presence, and multiplayer settings. To prevent unintended exposure of this information, configure XBOX embargo.
Publishing order
If you're publishing multiple products, publish them in the following order to avoid errors.
- Game
- Add-ons
- Season Passes or Add-on Bundles
- Game bundles
Pre-order bundles
Use a Game bundle product to make a combination of products available to players for pre-order, for example a Game and a piece of downloadable content (DLC). For information about setting up a Game bundle, see Set up a game in Partner Center.
If you want to include products that are only available to pre-order customers, create separate pre-order and release bundles and make them available for purchase during specific time periods. For example:
| Edition Name | Contents | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Edition Pre-Order | Base game, Season Pass, pre-order bonus cosmetic | Pre-order starts: 1 January Pre-order unlocks: 30 January |
| Deluxe Edition | Base game, Season Pass | Release: 30 January |
Pre-order bundles can also be used for other types of pre-order incentive, for example enabling customers who purchase a specific bundle to access the game earlier than the standard edition release date. For more information, see How to configure a pre-order early access bundle.
Making changes to a pre-order
If your pre-order products aren't published to the RETAIL sandbox, make any required changes before you publish. If you make changes to your SKU plan, inform your XBOX contacts in case approvals are required.
If your pre-order products are published to the RETAIL sandbox, you can only make specific changes. Before attempting to make any changes, inform your XBOX contacts.
Permitted changes
- Changes to Store listings, gaming metadata, properties, and XBOX services.
- Publishing updated packages.
- NOTE: Customers who pre-order and install a package receive an update to the latest package you publish if their device settings permit automatic updates. Customers who pre-order after you publish an update only install the latest package you publish.
- Adding new markets to the pricing and availability configuration.
- Adding products, excluding Consumables, to a pre-order bundle.
Forbidden changes
- Changes to release date or time, if the currently published release date is within 14 calendar days of the date the change is being made.
- Partner Center doesn't permit changes within the 14 day period. If you need to make a change earlier than the 14 day period, speak to your XBOX contacts before you take any action. Don't make changes to your release date for an active pre-order without guidance from your XBOX contacts.
Other changes and cancellations
- For any other changes, inform your XBOX contacts before you attempt to make the changes in Partner Center. For guidance about the requirements for some of these changes, see your publishing agreements and the XBOX Games Store policies (available in the XBOX Publisher Guide.
Accessing pre-order products in RETAIL
Customers who pre-order a product might choose to install it immediately, but it isn't playable until the configured release or pre-order unlock date. Products included in a bundle aren't playable until the bundle's release or pre-order unlock date, even if some of those products are already released.
If you want to make a product that you include in a pre-order bundle available to play immediately, speak to your XBOX contacts. An example of this scenario would be to include a previously released game in the pre-order bundle for an upcoming game.
You can acquire a pre-order product using a Promo Code.
Testing pre-order products
Redeeming a Promo Code for a product that has a pre-order configuration grants the user's account a pre-order entitlement. As a result, the product can't be played until the release date, or pre-order unlock date. If you want to test a product that has a pre-order configuration, use the following guidance according to your product type.
- Pre-order bundles: Generate and redeem a Promo Code for each product included in the pre-order bundle unless these products are also available for pre-order individually.
- Game or Durable products with a pre-order configuration Create a pre-order unlock bundle, then generate and redeem a Promo Code for this bundle. For more information, see Create a pre-order unlock bundle.
For more information about Promo Codes, see Ordering Promo Codes.
Note
When testing any products before release, consider using accounts with restricted privacy settings. Also consider using the configuration options available in Partner Center, such as Private Audience and XBOX Embargo, to prevent unintended visibility of the products before the pre-order begins.