Microsoft Cracks Down on Xbox Series Emulation in Retail Mode, Causing Uproar from Preservationists.

The Xbox Series X|S was considered some of the best emulation machines thanks to the support for emulation software. However, that might no longer be the case as Microsoft has shut down access to game emulation on retail versions of the console, limiting support to Dev mode. This means that emulation for consoles like the Nintendo Gamecube or the PlayStation 2 will no longer be available, and hundreds of users will lose access to their classic game libraries.

So, what’s happening after the crackdown? Well, if you try to open any of the emulators that were available on Xbox Series X|S, you will be met with the following message.

0x87e1002d This game or app can’t be launched as it violates the Microsoft Store Policy.

This means that the game or app is not supported due to a violation of the Microsoft Store Policy. Namely, clause number 10.13.10, which states that “Products that emulate a game system or game platform are not allowed on any device family.” While that’s the case, it also is a bit odd to reference since this policy has always been active, and emulation enthusiasts were able to have programs such as PPSSPP, RetroArch, and others.

So, what could be the cause of this new enforcement of Microsoft’s policy? Well, it’s currently rumored that the main reason behind the ban is due to legal issues with Nintendo. This rumor was started by Microsoft Azure developer Alyanna McKenna, who recently posted an email from the Xbox QA Team that explains the reasoning behind the ban:

To answer your questions, the primary reason for the ban is related to legal issues with Nintendo. While emulating itself is not illegal, it can be used to play games from consoles that are still under copyright protection without permission, which can create issues with Nintendo and its affiliates.

Additionally, we take security seriously, and some emulators require permissions beyond what is typical for an app. This could create a potential security risk, as these permissions can be exploited by bad actors to gain access to sensitive information. For these reasons, we have made the decision to ban emulators on the Xbox store front.

Since no screenshots of the email are currently available, we suggest our readers take this with a grain of salt, as we cannot be sure whether or not the email from Xbox QA is legitimate. Still, it wouldn’t be strange if Microsoft was forced into complying with Nintendo’s legal claims, especially after their recent partnership to bring Call of Duty to their platforms.

The email also states that the team is also looking for ways to allow safe and legal emulation on Xbox. Currently, the team is in talks with emulator developers to bring software onto their platform while ensuring that the safety protocols are followed. In the meantime, the emulation software is still accessible for users via Developer Mode. However, this comes with some caveats. The feature comes with a $20 access fee and it also isn’t available in certain regions.

Of course, as the headline states, a lot of game preservationists and emulation enthusiasts are outraged by this latest development. A hashtag dubbed #LetUsEmulate has been created, allowing users to join under a single banner and rally against Microsoft in an attempt to bring back emulation to the Xbox Series X|S retail mode. The story is currently developing, stay tuned for more updates.