Earlier this year, Xbox removed the ability to use emulators on Xbox X|S Series through the consoles' retail mode. Interested gamers had to pay for developer mode to continue using them, but some users found a way to bypass this requirement.
In case you don't remember, a method to successfully re-run emulators in retail mode was unveiled this month. However, there's a big catch: Xbox is banning users who do so. The community has reported temporary and permanent penalties, so we recommend you be careful.
Xbox penalizes gamers who emulate without developer mode
A group of enthusiasts found a way to run emulators on Xbox X|S Series without the need to have developer mode enabled. However, it did not release the information to the general public and started charging $2 USD per month to share the method with gamers.
Apparently, quite a few users opted for this option instead of paying for the developer mode, but were in for a surprise when they were banned. According to details, some users have received account suspensions of up to 15 days for employing this unofficial method.
Xbox is not happy with this way of using emulators in retail mode, so permanent bans have also been reported for some players. So, we recommend you to be careful and not to force emulation on Xbox X|S Series.
The consoles allow the use of emulators in developer mode, for which you have to pay $20 USD. This guarantees that you will not have any problems with Xbox when using them to enjoy retro games. All indications are that the workaround is still available, but is likely to be discontinued due to company sanctions.
Part of the community disagrees with the bans, believing that it is a way of speaking out against emulation and all that it entails. Other players think that those interested in using them should stick to Xbox's policies and pay for the developer mode.
the community involved in getting Xbox emulators back running in retail mode warn that Microsoft is issuing 15-day suspensions for people running emulator apps in retail mode. "Microsoft are console banning people caught uploading retail mode emulators" too. Back to dev mode... https://t.co/Pbpwk7KphK pic.twitter.com/kLxHU6r371
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) July 28, 2023
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