Symptoms:
- I want to deploy to Xbox platforms.
- I can't seem to build to Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.
- I want to develop an Xbox game.
Cause:
If you are not listed as a registered Xbox developer, part of the ID@Xbox program, or the Xbox Live Creators Program, you cannot download the Xbox build module for the Unity Editor.
Resolution:
If you want to deploy to Xbox platforms, there are a few Xbox programs available to apply for, depending on your situation:
Become a registered Microsoft developer
You need to be a registered Microsoft Developer to deploy to Xbox platforms. Once registered, you are assigned a Microsoft account manager and are given access to the Microsoft Game Developer Network website.
| Please note: You can only access the above link once your Microsoft account manager has granted you access. |
Alternatively, if you are not already registered, working with a registered publisher, or are a smaller indie developer, you may be able to sign up for the ID@Xbox program.
Signing up for the ID@Xbox program is free of charge. However, if you wish to connect your game to Xbox Live, you need to hold a Microsoft Developer account.
In addition to the above, there is also the Xbox Live Creators Program. This program allows you to publish your game directly to Windows 10 or Xbox whilst using the Xbox Live functionality.
Request Unity development access from Microsoft
Microsoft does not provide free Unity development for Xbox. As such, a valid Unity Pro or Enterprise subscription is required.
To get started, reach out to your Microsoft account manager to start developing in Unity. Once your Microsoft account manager approves your request, they will notify Unity. After that, reach out to your Unity representative to purchase a Pro license if you do not already have one. Alternatively, visit the online store for further information.
Once approved, you will receive a welcome email titled 'Welcome to the Unity Xbox Forum.' The Unity Forums contain all files and discussions on developing to Xbox with Unity. If the 'Welcome email' link does not work for you, please register a Unity forum account. Then reply to the welcome email, and you'll be added to the forum.
| Note: Please speak to your account manager at Unity to ensure you use the correct Unity license whilst developing for Xbox. |
Download Unity for Game Core
Download Unity for Xbox from the Unity Forums: Unity for Game Core Downloads
To get started with development, we also recommend the forum post titled Start Here! The Unity for Game Core FAQ
More Information:
If you have any questions regarding Xbox forum access or require members in your studio/team to be added to the Xbox forums, contact your Microsoft account manager to request access.
Comments
19 comments
how do you contact your Microsoft account manager
Yeah, this whole process has been very frustrating. I just want to test an export and get it running on my personal XBOX, not submit it for publishing or anything. (Yet)
i have do all this and become never access to the unity xobx utils *G
Hello Everyone.
It seems as though there is quite a bit of confusion surrounding this topic so hopefully my answer will clear any concerns you may have.
Unfortunately, it's not possible to freely develop a game for a console such as X-Box. You require to be a certified X-Box developer. If you have applied through the means stated in this article and have been accepted, you receive the contact of your Microsoft representative who can assist you with any licensing questions regarding your X-Box license.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any follow up questions.
More useless pseudo help from Unity. 3 broken links on this page. complete trash. Guess I have to go to YouTube again
Hello Jaime,
Thank you for your comment regarding this article. I am sorry to hear that you have been having some issues with the links in this page.
Just to make you aware, the links relating to the forums will be unaccessible, unless you have already completed the initial steps of registering as a Microsoft Developer, as mentioned in the steps above. Once you have been setup and your Microsoft Account Manager has approved you, Unity will inform you that you are good to go and will grant you access to those special forums.
Having said that, I have tested the first link in this article and you are correct, it seems to not be responding at the moment, so I am sorry about that. I am not sure if there is an issue on Microsofts side, as this link has been working recently, however I will flag this article for review so that any necessary updates or changes can be made.
Thank you again for your comment and feedback and I hope you have a nice day!
If you're not already a big developer, a good option is to go via Xbox Live Creators Program. You pay a small 1 time fee, and that will allow you to put your xbox into dev mode. Then, build your game for the UWP platform, not just specifically Xbox. This should take you to Visual Studio, where you can send the build to your Xbox (whilst it is in dev mode) and test it out. Please note that this still won't give access to the Xbox specific stuff, but UWP still works just as well.
Hope this helps.
Xbox Live Creators Program: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/developers/creators-program/
To Jarvis, Derek, and Maru,
The point is not the links. I don't know what you're talking about. The links don't work for me. PERIOD. If there's a reason why the links may not come up, then it should cross your mind to QUALIFY that link with a bit of text to explain. But, that's not really the point is it? The point is that the information stated is WRONG! TOTALLY WRONG and should be taken down.
Derek states:
"Unfortunately, it's not possible to freely develop a game for a console such as X-Box. You require to be a certified X-Box developer. If you have applied through the means stated in this article and have been accepted, you receive the contact of your Microsoft representative who can assist you with any licensing questions regarding your X-Box license."
What? Get your act together.
For those devs that have unfortunately come to this page, let me save you some time:
1) Register with Microsoft Creators program (it costs $19) it's the only link that works in this post.
2) Get the Xbox Live plugin for Unity. You'll need this to integrate with the account above with your game. Well explained here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSJpbQHT8vc&t=714s
3) Note when you do download the plugin, make sure you get XBL-Unity1804QFE2-Fixed.unitypackage because of course there's a ton of errors in the original given that Unity changes features and UI at the speed of light. You'll still need to toggle the editor property in either NET35 or NET46 depending on your version. (simple right?)
4) With those in place, for an end-to-end tutorial, watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uibEl3SmI1k&t=704s
5) You should have your toolchain complete and be able to go from concept to console. Note if you're having issues with rendering on the console, make sure you have Direct3D12 as the topmost option with Auto Graphics API NOT selected. You'll need to add it and move it up.
I've tested this on standard template, Universal, and HDRP for version 2020.2.2
Note that the YouTube videos posted above are several YEARS old whereas the comments of Maru and Derek are within the year. Meaning they have no idea what they are talking about...
Hi,
I wrote the following comment 6 months ago on this page but the moderators have not approve it and it is in pending approval state:
If my comment was accepted back then, it might have prevented some of the confusions stated recently.
Regards,
Aydin
Hello Jamie and Aydin,
Thank you both for your comments and feedback on this article.
I have flagged this article for review with our team so that we can make the necessary updates to reflect the alternative Xbox Live Creators Program. We will be working with our Console Support Team to ensure that the information is correct and can only apologise for any confusion caused.
We will always try our best to update and maintain our articles to reflect any new updates or changes to processes, so please be assured that it is not our intention to misinform our users.
If there is anything else you need in the meantime, please feel free to email us at support@unity3d.com or alternatively, you can submit a ticket via this web form.
Hi Jarvis,
Do you know why my comments are getting stuck in "Pending approval" state? Both the one I posted yesterday and the one I posted 6 months ago?
How can I fix it?
Anyone know what Jaime meant by toggling the editor property in Net35 or Net46 (step 3 in his post).
I already did the steps, I registered on this page:
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/developers/id/apply
And then a representative contacted me by email, made me sign an agreement, I did it and then gave me access to an agina where I can send information and sketches of my game to be in review, they tell me if my game once it is approved , they will send me a development kit, when will I get the Xbox One SDK or what will I have to do to get it?
Hello there,
Thank you for your comment.
I am happy to hear that you have registered to be an Xbox developer via ID@Xbox. You will receive access to the Xbox SDK, private developer forums and other Xbox services once your application has been reviewed and handled by Microsoft.
Hopefully they get back to you soon to confirm your application has been accepted and your developer tools are good to go.
If there is anything else you need in the meantime, please feel free to email us at support@unity3d.com or alternatively, you can submit a ticket via this web form.
Just to sum up and bring my experience...
If you want to play your game on xbox you have 2 options:
- UWP
- XDK
UWP is pretty simple:
you pay 19$ and you can enable every xbox (also series X|S) as a devkit. You will have some hardware limitations. Microsoft will not ask for your game so there will not be any "quality check"
XDK instead costs 99$ but you have to apply to id@xbox. You will have no hardware limitations. You will receive 2 devkits for xbox one.
YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW TO MICROSOFT YOUR GAME! IF IT'S JUST AN IDEA AND YOU DON'T HAVE A VIDEO THAT SHOWS THE GAMEPLAY, DON'T DO THE APPLY.
You will be rejected.
I did the apply for my game. it's 95% completed so I got something to show them. I signed some contracts and then I received 2 devkit for xbox one.
Before thinking to bring your game to console, try to understand what your game is:
- Is the new "Far cry" ? Ok, so record a video of the gameplay, do the apply to id@xbox and then follow the instruction provided from the account manager. I took me less than 30 days to get the dev kit.
- Is the new "mario kart" with no post processing, no complex shaders and with simple VFX? So go for UWP.
- You don't have really a game but you want to have fun or learn something? Go for UWP.
In summary, what I understand is that the UWP is to pay 19$ dollars to publish my game without review and they can be played on almost all xbox consoles even (S | X) and for XDK I need to pay 99$ dollars for the XDK Console and I will have no limitations compared to UWP mode. I am right? but I have 2 more questions.
-If I develop with XDK, won't I be able to publish it for Xbox (S | X)?
- Andrea Palazzesi you tell me that I have to pay 99$ for the XDK, but recently I asked ID @ xbox by mail about that topic and they told me that the 2 XDK consoles were free
Whinsekk, 99$ is for becoming partner of Microsoft through id@xbox. When you become partner of microsoft you will receive (if you ask them) two devkit for free made by:
-xbox one x devkit
-xbox one s devkit
This is the old generation
If you develop with xdk, I think that the game will be compatible with the new xbox s|x.
In the form I filled while submitting the concept of my game there was some checkbox regarding fps and resolution for their new generation consoles.
Anyway... UWP will work for sure With xbox series s. I tested it while I was waiting the devkit.
The xbox series x|s devkit is another story that costs money but honestly i was ok with the “free” devkit
So, I have done this:
You need to be a registered Microsoft Developer to deploy to Xbox platforms.
And paid my fees, now I can't register for ID@Xbox, and I can't get into anything to do with game dev at all, only App dev? Can anyone at Unity confirm what I need to do.
Thanks,
Jon
Hello Jonny!
Thank you for your comment. I am sorry to hear that you are having some issues getting started with XBOX development.
The best thing to do in this scenario would be to first contact your Microsoft Account Manager. Unfortunately, Unity has no visibility on their side of things so this can be tricky to advise on without more information.
With this in mind, please also email us at support@unity3d.com or alternatively, you can submit a ticket via this web form. Hopefully we can help you get this resolved!
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