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Important
This article describes features that require enrollment as an XBOX creator. To get started, register for an XBOX developer program. If you're already enrolled but aren't able to use the described features, speak to your XBOX contactsAuthorization required.
Submission of SKU plans
As early as possible before the release of your game on XBOX consoles or XBOX on PC, provide your XBOX contacts with a plan detailing the different editions (SKUs) of your game. Share this SKU plan for your digital products and any physical products you're planning to distribute. This information enables your XBOX contacts to provide you with guidance about creating and configuring the products.
If your SKU plan changes after you submit it for review, share details about the changes with your XBOX contacts before you modify or publish your products.
XBOX Games and Microsoft Store policies
The XBOX Games Store Policies (available in the XBOX Publisher Guide), Microsoft Store Policies, and your publishing agreement with Microsoft each provide guidance about permitted product configurations for both physical and digital distribution. Before you begin your SKU planning, ensure you're familiar with the requirements for each platform you game supports. Speak to your XBOX contacts if you're unsure about any requirements.
Important information to share
To help your XBOX contacts identify any recommendations or potential problems with your SKU plan, there are a few important pieces of information to share. This information includes:
- The name of each SKU of your game.
- The content to be included in each SKU, for example base game and specific downloadable content (DLC) products.
- If the details for future DLC products are unconfirmed, include the information that is known and share updates with your XBOX contacts before the content is released.
- If you're planning on including a Season Pass, be sure you're compliant with the requirements detailed in the XBOX Games Store Policy (available in the XBOX Publisher Guide).
- Details about any retailer-specific content.
- Details about any pre-order-specific content.
- The recommended retail price (RRP).
- Key dates such as announcement and release date.
- The product configuration for multi-platform releases, for example Smart Delivery and XBOX Play Anywhere.
- Any other important information.
Your XBOX contacts review your SKU plan and provide their approval. If needed, they request and share more feedback from the Microsoft Store team.
Product distribution configurations
When preparing your SKU plan, consider the options available that affect how your products are sold to customers.
- XBOX Play Anywhere: PC and XBOX console versions of your game configured as a single product, enabling customers to purchase once and play on both device types (XBOX Unified Entitlement). The game must also support cross-progression between the PC and console versions of the game.
- Smart Delivery: XBOX One and XBOX Series X|S platforms configured as a single product, enabling customers to purchase the product once and automatically install the native package for the device on which they're playing. Optionally, the product can also be used for a PC version of the game.
- Separate products: XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, and PC platforms configured as individual products. Products can be bundled together or sold separately.
- Use a generation of relationship to enable customers to automatically install the native package for the device on which they're playing. For more information, see Product relationship management.
- Use Game binding to share XBOX services between the individual products. For more information, see Game binding.
For more information, see Set up XBOX products in Partner Center.
Example SKU plan
This SKU plan shows an example of the information you should provide to your XBOX contacts.
DISC PRODUCTS
| Edition Name | Platforms | Recommended Retail Price | Contents | Distribution | Key Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S | $69.99 | Base game | Physical | Release: 1 September 2026 | Smart Delivery |
| Special Edition | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S | $89.99 | Base game, Season Pass | Physical | Release: 1 September 2026 | Season Pass via promo code included in box Smart Delivery |
| Collector's Edition | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S | $129.99 | Base game, Season Pass, physical game character statue | Physical | Release: 1 September 2026 | Season Pass via promo code included in box Smart Delivery |
DIGITAL PRODUCTS
| Edition Name | Platforms | Recommended Retail Price | Contents | Distribution | Key Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $69.99 | Base game | Digital | Release: 1 September 2026 | Smart Delivery XBOX Play Anywhere |
| Standard Edition Pre-Order | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $69.99 | Base game, pre-order bonus cosmetic | Digital | Pre-order starts: 1 June 2026 Pre-order unlocks: 1 September 2026 |
Pre-order bonus is available to buy post-release Smart Delivery XBOX Play Anywhere |
| Special Edition | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $89.99 | Base game, Season Pass | Digital | Release: 1 September 2026 | Smart Delivery XBOX Play Anywhere |
| Special Edition Pre-Order | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $89.99 | Base game, early access, pre-order bonus cosmetic, Season Pass | Digital | Pre-order starts: 1 June 2026 Pre-order unlocks: 27 August 2026 |
Pre-order bonus is available to buy post-release Smart Delivery XBOX Play Anywhere |
| Season Pass | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $24.99 | DLC Pack 1, DLC Pack 2 | Digital | Release: 1 September 2026 | DLC packs provide new multiplayer maps |
| DLC Pack 1 | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $14.99 | Post-launch maps | Digital | Release: TBC - estimated 1 October 2026 | - |
| DLC Pack 2 | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $14.99 | Post-launch maps | Digital | Release: TBC - estimated 1 November 2026 | - |
| Pre-Order Bonus | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $3.99 | Character cosmetics | Digital | Release: 30 September 2026 | - |
| Virtual Currency | XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC | $4.99 - $99.99 | Various quantities of in-game currency for cosmetic purchases | Digital | Release: 1 September 2026 | - |
Digital pre-order considerations
As a managed Creator, you should submit your pre-order and SKU plans to Microsoft for approval. We recommended sharing your plans with your XBOX contacts at least three weeks before your pre-order begins to allow sufficient time for review. Follow the guidance in this topic to prepare your pre-order SKU plan for review. Submit this pre-order plan as early as possible to ensure that your timeline and goals can be achieved.
For more information, see Configuring pre-order products.
Marketing considerations
In addition to sharing your SKU plan with your XBOX contacts, you should also share your high-level marketing plans for each game. This information helps us coordinate marketing efforts and enables us to provide the best support possible.
Next steps
After your SKU plan is approved, create any other products that you require. Some product types, including Games and Game bundles, require extra onboarding. For more information, see Set up XBOX products in Partner Center.