Xbox One Dev Kit Activation is a service in the form of an app that allows anyone to buy a retail console off the shelf and convert it to a dev kit. This was a promise made to developers in 2013 to make the platform more accessible. At the time, the cost of a dev kit and the process of acquiring one was a high barrier to entry.
What sounds like a simple process is actually rather complex on the back end. The biggest design challenge was keeping the flow simple and not exposing the technical limitations to the user.
Xbox One Dev Kit Activation is a service in the form of an app that allows anyone to buy a retail console off the shelf and convert it to a dev kit. This was a promise made to developers in 2013 to make the platform more accessible. At the time, the cost of a dev kit and the process of acquiring one was a high barrier to entry.
What sounds like a simple process is actually rather complex on the back end. The biggest design challenge was keeping the flow simple and not exposing the technical limitations to the user.
Xbox One Retail Mode home screen
Xbox One Store - App acquisition
Xbox One Store - App Detail view
My Games and Apps - App launch
Conversion code for Windows Dev Center
Windows Dev Center Login
Windows Dev Center - Dev Kit Management page
Windows Dev Center - Activation code input
Activation conversion screen
Activation enable and reboot screen
Xbox One launch screen upon reboot
Xbox One Dev Kit Mode home screen
