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Retro Rewind: Should Microsoft Allow Emulators on Xbox One?

Retro Rewind: Should Microsoft Allow Emulators on Xbox One?

Update, 9/28/16: Microsoft has pulled Win64e10 from the Microsoft Store.

Emulation has been in the Xbox One news lately. Have you heard? People keep bringing up potential Windows 10 apps with Xbox One compatibility that will let them play retro games on their consoles. It’s caused quite a stir, with people wondering if their systems should have access to programs that would make such capabilities possible. It’s a tricky question where the correct answer seems to be yes, though piracy concerns may make someone lean toward no.

The current questioning all started with this little emulator that could, a program called NESbox . It received certification and seemed like it would have brought Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Genesis, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance-playing capabilities to the Xbox One via a free app. But then, Microsoft wouldn’t publish it unless the Xbox One compatibility was removed. Which it was. So now the emulator is back, but only for Windows.

A hypocritical move, when you think about it. Right now, a Nintendo 64 emulator is available in the Windows Store and is compatible with the Xbox One. Win64e10 is a $9.99 program that allows Xbox One owners to play N64 games on their device. That it, a paid emulator, remains while a free one has been removed doesn’t seem right. It suggests Microsoft would be okay with such Xbox One apps so long as it gets its cut, rather than such removals to be dictated by morality.

It’s a futile action as well. The will of the people led to the NESbox coming to the Xbox One anyway. It’s now playable in the console’s Edge browser, thanks to itch.io . People can now play single player games from the console’s browser with the gamepad, showing that people will find a way to make things happen, even when a company like Microsoft makes it difficult.

Retro Rewind: Should Microsoft Allow Emulators on Xbox One?

Besides, it isn’t like an emulator itself is illegal. If it is taking and using some of the original technology and programming, it is. Then, it should be removed, and rightfully so. But if it’s a general program that’s been fully designed by its creators, then doesn’t it have its place? Especially since there are homebrew games that don’t mean you’re using pirated software. People do release original retro game files online.

Microsoft has set some precedents. It’s allowing one emulator, Win64e10, to run on the Xbox One, despite denying NESbox. Emulation in and of itself isn’t always illegal. Also, there are legitimate, original games created by people and released as homebrew roms. While this is a shady area, perhaps it’s one where Microsoft could stand to be a little more lenient.

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