Xbox Is Suspending Players Caught Using Emulators - Gameranx
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It looks like Microsoft is cracking down hard for those found using emulators on the Xbox console lineup.

For a good while, there was a bit of hype built around the Xbox Series S, in particular for the retro gaming scene. It was a cheaper device that offered a small form factor. Likewise, it allowed consumers to download emulators and enjoy various retro video games. But while this process was available, some consumers were skeptical. Of course, it didn’t take Microsoft too long before they outright banned emulators from being available in the marketplace, making it impossible to download and enjoy. That’s just the emulators being used in the Xbox Series X/S retail mode.

[…]

RETAIL MODE ON XBOX IS DEAD!

  • 15-day suspensions handed out to users of retail emulators as a warning shot from Microsoft.
  • Devs warning users to delete emulators
  • Retail Mode team disbanding and shutting down the Patreon. Sorry to bear the bad news. RT to warn others

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  • @[email protected]OPEnglish
    2•11 months ago

    Mac-only household and I can’t afford a PC just for gaming. I don’t want one, anyhow. I’ve been gaming since 1977 and have always preferred consoles, from the Intellivision through every Nintendo (except the Wii), PlayStation, and Xbox iteration. I like controllers and hate Windows with the passion of a white dwarf.

    But that’s just me.

    • skulblaka
      8•11 months ago

      Many emulators run on mac or Linux and you can buy usb-ended controllers for damn near every console that has ever existed.

      • @[email protected]OPEnglish
        2•11 months ago

        Oh shit, really? I didn’t know that. Mac hasn’t been good for gaming historically, and I basically gave up trying ages ago.

        I think you’ve just destroyed my week.

        • skulblaka
          2•11 months ago

          I haven’t owned a mac in a long while, but I had one around 2012 and back then I was happily running N64 and SNES emulation and was somewhat active in the Super Mario World romhacking scene. I can only imagine it has improved since then. I know for a fact you can run tons of emulators on Linux because I have them all installed on my steam deck.

          • @GoodGrief_HowDareYouEnglish
            2•11 months ago

            Can confirm - used to run Windows 11, got a steamdeck -> installed all the emulators - switch emulation is OP, was so impressed I ended out switching gaming pc over to linux. 90% of titles run just fine, the remaining 10% seem to be certain EA titles (and apparently that’s just due to their crappy launcher).

            Emulators to check out:

            Linux-specific gaming (outside of Steam - Valve’s Proton compatibility layer seems to make almost all titles work):

            • @poryEnglish
              2•11 months ago

              There are some programs where this isn’t true thanks to Apple’s M1 chip design not being compatible natively with x64/x86 applications. But most emulator projects support the M1.

              On Intel Macs this is always true.

        • @krakenxEnglish
          2•11 months ago

          https://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms

          RetroArch has versions for both ARM and Intel based Mac’s. You shouldn’t have a problem playing up to Dreamcast, possibly later. There is a bit of a learning curve, but RetroArch is on pretty much everything now, and it’s worth learning.

    • Dadd VolanteEnglish
      3•11 months ago

      I bought a 130 dollar mini-pc that I slapped Batocera on, it turns any computer into a console that runs tons of emulators.

      It’s revitalized my love of casual gaming