What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
To release an Xbox game, configure it in Microsoft Partner Center, provide its packages, age ratings, Store listing and other product details, then submit it for certification. Xbox console and PC releases must pass certification before launch. Exact requirements depend on the supported platforms, release markets, product features and whether you plan to distribute physical discs.
How the Xbox publishing process works
Partner Center is the hub for configuring a game, uploading packages, supplying Store information and ratings, submitting for certification, and publishing after certification passes. Microsoft’s Game Publishing Guide overview also describes lifecycle tools such as package flighting, promotional codes, and sales or engagement reports.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For onboarding, Microsoft directs prospective publishers to register as an Xbox partner, enroll in Partner Center, and apply to ID@Xbox. Microsoft says partner registration and applying to ID@Xbox have no fees; this does not guarantee acceptance or immediate access to every publishing feature. Follow the current steps and eligibility requirements in the Xbox onboarding overview.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Prepare the product configuration
Before submission, work through the configuration areas in Microsoft’s readiness checklist: game setup, packages, properties, age ratings, Store listings, pricing and availability, gaming metadata, and Xbox services. Set supported platforms and release markets accurately, and confirm that the packages and ratings match them.
#1 Best Overall
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Submit, then publish
After the configuration is ready, submit the product for certification in Partner Center. Once it passes, publish the product and make it available to customers in the Microsoft Store. Certification approval is a prerequisite for release, not an automatic release date: complete the publishing and availability configuration for the intended launch.
What Xbox certification checks
Microsoft requires certification before products release on Xbox consoles or PC. The documented process has three main stages: submission checks, build verification testing, and Xbox requirements testing. See Microsoft’s certification submission guidance.
- Submission checks: The package is reviewed by validators and scanned for viruses.
- Build verification: Microsoft checks that the build is testable and that issues from previous submissions have been resolved.
- Requirements testing: The product is tested against applicable Xbox test cases. Passing the applicable tests means it is considered compliant and ready for release.
Certification covers more than whether a package installs or runs. Store listings and pricing and availability are also product components reviewed through the Partner Center process; applicable requirements vary by product.
Rank #2
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
Prepare a complete submission
Complete the certification questionnaire and include relevant supplemental material. Microsoft gives an achievement guide, walkthrough, or key-features summary as examples. Before final submission, review validator results, resolve issues from earlier submissions, and complete the relevant Xbox services, Properties, and Age Ratings configuration. If a previous Optional or Final submission requires it, increment the package version. Disc releases also have listing requirements connected to the disc order.
Age ratings: digital releases and physical discs
Age ratings are required for every certification submission. In Partner Center, publishers can complete the IARC questionnaire to generate a rating or enter an IARC rating ID obtained through another platform or storefront. Publishers are responsible for supplying all required certificates for review. Microsoft’s age-rating guidance explains the available paths.
Check ratings against markets and platforms
Make sure ratings exist for every market selected for availability. The readiness checklist advises that the IARC questionnaire be accurate and redone if answers change, and that uploaded rating values and descriptors match the Partner Center configuration.
Rank #3
- PLAY LIKE A PRO — The XBOX Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 features over 30 ways to play like a pro. Designed in collaboration with pro-level players, it puts exceptional performance, customization, and durability where it matters most.
- ADJUSTABLE-TENSION THUMBSTICKS — Fine-tune your aim with thumbsticks that let you adjust resistance for improved accuracy, consistency, and control in every match.
- SHORTER HAIR TRIGGER LOCKS — Fire faster and react quicker with three-step hair trigger locks that reduce pull distance for rapid input in competitive gameplay.
- INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS — Swap thumbstick toppers, D-pads, and paddles to tailor your controller to your preferred gaming style. Includes 6 thumbsticks, 4 paddles, 2 D-pads, carrying case, and charging dock.
- SAVE AND SWITCH PROFILES — Save up to 3 custom profiles on the controller and switch between them on the fly with the dedicated Profile button. Even pick which color the XBOX button lights up as.
For a game spanning multiple platforms, overriding an IARC-generated rating may require a valid certificate for each platform. Xbox Series X|S is treated as a new platform by most rating authorities. Whether the authority requires an additional-platform rating or a full submission depends on whether the game’s content is unchanged or materially changed; fees and conditions may apply. Check with the relevant rating authority and Xbox contacts.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Physical distribution adds regional certificate steps
If you will distribute physical copies, complete the questionnaire and upload the rating certificate obtained from the ratings board for each region where the game will be sold physically. Digital ratings alone should not be assumed to satisfy these physical-distribution steps.
Store listing text and artwork
The Store listing is the customer-facing text, images and trailers on the Microsoft Store product detail page. Microsoft requires a listing in at least one language; a text description and at least one screenshot in one language are required to complete the Store listing step. Localized listings are recommended for languages used in release markets where feasible. Requirements depend on device family, so Xbox titles must meet Xbox-specific rules as well as requirements for any other supported devices. See the Xbox Store listing guide.
Rank #4
- XBOX ELITE WIRELESS CONTROLLER SERIES 2: Play like a pro with adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks..Audio : 3.5mm stereo headset jack. Also compatible with the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter and all other Xbox controller accessories made by Microsoft.
- CORE ESSENTIALS: Includes just the components you need to unleash your best game. Additional components sold separately for even more customization with the Complete Component Pack.
- LIMITLESS CUSTOMIZATION: Exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox Accessories app—even pick which color the Xbox button lights up with.*
- CUSTOM PROFILES: Save up to 3 custom profiles on the controller and switch between them on the fly.*
- EXTENDED GAMEPLAY: Stay in the game with up to 40 hours of battery life and refined components that are built to last.*
Game art and screenshots
For game submissions, the guide identifies these required art assets:
- Box art
- Poster art
- Featured Promotional Square Art
- Super Hero Art
- Titled Hero Art
- Screenshots
Branded Key Art is no longer required for Xbox submissions. Trailers are optional but highly recommended. Do not apply this game-asset checklist automatically to DLC, physical-disc submissions, or other device families; check the instructions for the specific product and submission.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchImage placement and screenshot count
When applicable, the title must appear in the upper two-thirds of the image; Microsoft identifies this placement as a certification requirement. The Store listing guidance sets a minimum of one screenshot, supports up to eight, and recommends at least four. Confirm the current file formats and dimensions for each asset in the guide before creating final artwork.
Best Value
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Trailer rules depend on placement. In particular, distinguish trailers on the Store product page from trailers used elsewhere; the product-page guidance includes an exception concerning embedded ratings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Account, privacy and feature disclosures
Game features can affect certification and Store copy. Microsoft’s Xbox online safety and privacy requirements address cases where publisher-account sign-in or account linking is needed for gameplay or features. The title must provide an age-appropriate access path in light of its rating, Xbox family settings, regional law, and feature-specific safety or privacy requirements. Publisher-account requirements and material restrictions must also be disclosed clearly in the Store, packaging, and in-game messaging.
Plan around the differences that change requirements
- Platform: Xbox console, Xbox on PC, and multi-platform releases can have different package and listing requirements. Rating certificates may need to cover each platform.
- Release format: Digital and physical releases do not share identical rating steps. Physical distribution requires regional rating certificates; disc ordering has listing and final-asset requirements.
- Market and language: Ratings need to cover configured markets. Consider Store languages used in those markets.
- Features and accounts: Online features and publisher-account requirements can trigger age-appropriate access, privacy, and disclosure obligations.
Use Partner Center and the current Microsoft documentation to verify requirements for the specific title, supported devices, markets, and release format before submitting. The procedural and technical guidance can change independently.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
