Certification
Also said as Cert, TRC, XR, Lotcheck, Submission
The check a console maker runs before a game can be released on its machine. Sony calls its list TRC, Microsoft XR and Nintendo Lotcheck. They test things like save handling, button names and what happens when a controller is unplugged.
A failed submission costs you a fix and another full review, and the launch date does not move for you. Teams that have never done it often don't allow time for it.
Say it
“Book two full submission cycles before the launch date, and run our own TRC pass before the first one. Test unplugging the controller and pulling the disk in every screen.”
Where you’ve seen it
Xbox rules generally ask for the same features on Series S and Series X. Baldur's Gate 3's split-screen would not run acceptably on Series S, which held up the Xbox version until Microsoft agreed an exception in 2023.
Not to be confused with age rating
Certification is the platform checking your game works by its rules. An age rating is a separate body such as PEGI or the ESRB judging its content.