Requirements for Open Betas and Game Previews
Version 12.1 - 4/01/2024
Introduction
Xbox offers the option to test Betas and Game Previews against a reduced set of Xbox Requirements, as players expect these products to be unfinished.
- For a summary of the changes in this release, see changes in this release at the bottom of this page.
- To review the historical change log of XRs and test cases, see Change History for Xbox Requirements and Test Cases.
Betas
All beta products must be approved by Microsoft and validated for Submission Checks. In addition, products made available to consumers are also subject to and validated against the XRs listed below.
All Open Betas must be certified before they can be released. For Closed Betas, however, the requirement for certification is driven by the distribution type and size of the release:
- Closed Betas that have <10,000 users and are managed by the Publisher are not subject to a Beta XR review prior to the release but are subject to a review by Microsoft.
- Closed Betas that have ≥10,000 users and are managed by the Publisher are subject to a Beta XR review prior to the release.
- Closed Betas that have <50,000 users and are managed by the Xbox Insiders Program are not subject to a Beta XR review but are subject to a review by Microsoft.
- Closed Betas that have ≥50,000 users and are managed by the Xbox Insiders Program are subject to a Beta XR review prior to the release.
In general, beta products are separate from the full game. All XRs will be applicable when only the full game is prepared for the release. In addition, none of the exceptions filed for the beta release will be applicable to the full game unless also filed under the full game. In limited scenarios (such as Free to Play), when a beta migrates to a full title, it must undergo a full certification pass, and all XRs will be applicable.
Game Preview
Game Preview titles require certification and adherence to the XRs listed below. Although the number of requirements is reduced for titles in the Game Preview program, this might not shorten the overall time frame necessary for updates. When a title exits the Game Preview program, it must undergo a full certification pass, and all XRs will be applicable.
Requirements for Betas and Game Preview titles
Beta and Game Preview titles must meet the following XRs for certification:
| Requirement | Xbox Consoles - Betas | Xbox Consoles - Xbox Game Preview | Windows 10 - Betas | Windows 10 - Game Previews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XR-003: Title Quality for Submission (Submission Validator portions only) | Yes | Yes | ||
| XR-083: XDK/GDK Versions | Yes | Yes | ||
| XR-109: Linking Between Apps | Yes | Yes | ||
| XR-009: Secure Title Development | Yes | Yes | ||
| XR-132: Service Access Limitation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-133: Local Storage Write Limitations | Yes | Yes | ||
| XR-013: Linking Microsoft Accounts with Publisher Accounts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-014: Personal Information | Yes | Yes | ||
| XR-015: Managing Player Communication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-017: Title Ratings | Yes | |||
| XR-022: Official Naming Standards | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-045: Xbox network and Account Privileges | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-046: Display Name and Gamerpic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-048: Profile Settings Usage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-064: Joinable Game Sessions and Online Play | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-067: Maintaining Multiplayer Session State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XR-070: Xbox Friends Lists | Yes | Yes | ||
| XR-117: Beta/Game Preview Notification | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox Network Achievement Requirements (if offered) | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
Changes in this Release
| Date | Version of the document | Description of changes |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2024 | 12.1 | Removed XR-133 from PC Beta and Game Preview requirements as it does not apply. |