Microsoft bans users from running game emulations on Xbox Series X | S. On Thursday, Twitter user @gamr12who is involved in distributing the RetroArch emulation software on Xbox, posted the error message they received when trying to launch the emulated content.
“Cannot start this game or application,” the message says. “The game or app you are trying to launch violates Microsoft Store policy and is not supported.” Other users with emulation software on Xbox Series X | S reports that he is running into the same problem.
As @gamr12 pointed out, you can still emulate games on Xbox Series X | Yes, but only if you put the device in developer mode, which you have to pay for. It seems that Microsoft only got rid of the option when the console was put into retail mode, something that all users can activate for free with a little technical knowledge.
While it’s still unclear what prompted the change, Alyanna, an active fan of the emulator who says she’s a Microsoft Azure Developerclaims to have contacted an anonymous “friend of the Xbox QA team” on the subject weeks ago, who said that the reason for the ban is Nintendo.
While the source and claims in the message have not been verified or confirmed, it says, “The main reason for the ban is related to legal issues with Nintendo.” “While emulating itself is not illegal, it can be used to play games on consoles that are still protected by copyright without permission, which can create problems with Nintendo and its affiliates.”
Microsoft’s rules technically don’t allow emulations, but the company has typically looked the other way in the past, according my city. “We continually evolve our mechanisms for reviewing and taking enforcement action on content distributed in the Store to ensure alignment with our Microsoft Store Policies,” Microsoft says. my city. “As of 10.13.10, products that emulate a game system or game platform are not allowed on any device family,” Microsoft says. The company did not immediately respond to the edgerequest for comments.
If Nintendo is, in fact, the catalyst behind Microsoft’s decision, I wouldn’t be at all surprised. Nintendo has long been a fan of emulated games, unless of course the company itself can create and benefit from them (see: NES/SNES Mini, Nintendo Switch Online game packs, etc.). Nintendo, in particular, sued website RomUniverse for $1.2 million in 2019. Nintendo also went after Gary Bowser, a Canadian hacker selling Switch hacks, who agreed to pay $10 million in fines and is currently serving a 40-month prison sentence.
