Xbox games rumored to become playable on Windows PCs thanks to official emulator

In a recent YouTube video posted by eXtas1s, it’s claimed that Xbox games might soon be playable on Windows PCs via emulation. Much of this is unconfirmed and pure speculation, but it could very well become reality and aligns with previous statements from Xbox employees like Sarah Bond, who mentioned that they wanted to launch a program for game preservation and archiving.

Playing Xbox Games on PC via a new x64 emulator

Some of these rumors, which have been posted shortly before the upcoming Xbox showcase on June 8th, are based on Microsoft’s ongoing efforts regarding backward compatibility and game archiving. Apparently, there are indications that Microsoft is working on an Xbox emulator for Windows that would make it possible to play titles from previous Xbox generations on PC via x64 emulation. This would go beyond the existing backward compatibility program and make a broader list of Xbox games playable on PC. Presumably, it could include tiles that have not been officially released for PC or aren’t part of the current selection of backward-compatible games.

Such an emulator could play a significant role in preserving the extensive Xbox game library and allow users to continue experiencing their purchased games on modern hardware without fiddling with files or third-party mods. It would also be another step towards "Xbox Everywhere". Anyhow, those who prefer to play on an actual Xbox can still grab the Series X on Amazon.

Big picture mode coming to the Xbox app?

JezCorden reported on BlueSky that the Xbox app on Windows 11 has suddenly become noticeably better in terms of look and performance, which can be beneficial for upcoming handhelds such as the Asus ROG Ally 2. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer was one of the first to repost this take, which could be interpreted as a kind of confirmation. According to eXtas1s, the app could even receive a so-called “Big Picture Mode”, which is a feature that’s already available on Steam. This would also be practical for handhelds and would make the Xbox library easier to access on other Windows systems.