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How to configure a Game or Durable pre-order

Important

This topic describes features that are only available to Managed Creators with appropriate permissions. For details, speak to your Microsoft contacts.

Important

The product configuration described below can be accessible via “web scraping” (or data scraping) technology before the first scheduled date. If this isn't your intent, please utilize the Private Audience or Disable Store Presence options to protect your product’s listing up until the first scheduled date.

With Private Audience, your Product Details Page (PDP) is only visible to a user group of your choosing, and it offers the ability to schedule when the product’s availability transitions from private to public. See Visibility - Audiences for more information.

With Disable Store Presence, the product won't have a PDP, be testable, or be redeemable via token until your first scheduled date. See the Disable store presence section for more information.

Definition

Pre-orders enable you to sell your products to users before they're released. Pre-orders should be approved by Microsoft before being configured. For more information about submitting a pre-order plan for approval, see Configuring pre-order products.

This scenario is for a pre-order configuration on a Game or Durable product. After the pre-order period ends, the product is still purchasable.

Product types this applies to

  • Game
  • Durable/Durable with Packages

Configuration for Game products

  1. Go to the product you want to configure the pre-order for in Partner Center.
  2. Select Pricing and availability from the page navigation.
  3. In the Markets section, select Show options and then select the markets that the product will be available in.
  4. In the Visibility section, select Make this product available and discoverable in the Microsoft Store.
  5. In the Schedule section, select the following options.
    • Release: Select at, and then enter a date and time for the release of the product.
    • Pre-order: Select starts at, and then enter a date and time for the pre-order to begin.
    • Discoverable in the Microsoft Store: Select at, and then enter a date and time for the product to become discoverable and visible in the Store (usually the same as the pre-order start date).
    • Stop acquisition: Select never.
    • No longer discoverable in the Microsoft Store: Select Never.
  6. In the Pricing section, set your pricing for the product.
  7. Select Save draft.
  8. When you're ready, select Review and publish to publish your configuration to your development sandbox or RETAIL.

Configuration for Durable/Durable with Packages products

  1. Go to the product you want to configure the pre-order for in Partner Center.
  2. Select Pricing and availability from the page navigation.
  3. In the Markets section, select Show options and then select the markets that the product will be available in.
  4. In the Visibility section, select Discoverable in the Microsoft Store through searching and browsing.
  5. In the Purchasability section, select Can be purchased (from within the parent product and from its own Microsoft Store listing).
  6. In the Schedule section, select the following options.
    • Release: Select at, and then enter a date and time for the release of the product.
    • Pre-order: Select starts at, and then enter a date and time for the pre-order to begin.
    • Discoverable in the Microsoft Store: Select at, and then enter a date and time for the product to become discoverable and visible in the Store (usually the same as the pre-order start date).
    • Stop acquisition: Select never.
    • No longer discoverable in the Microsoft Store: Select Never.
  7. In the Pricing section, set your pricing for the product.
  8. Select Save draft.
  9. When you're ready, select Review and publish to publish your configuration to your development sandbox or RETAIL.

See also

If you're also including the product in a pre-order bundle, review the guidance at Pre-orders and How to configure a pre-order bundle.

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