cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/2355803

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

[Article continues…]

  • Molecular0079@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    It is so annoying how companies insist on dictating what we can or cannot do with the hardware we’ve already paid for. It’s doubly annoying when you consider how it contributes to e-waste because it limits our ability to repurpose these things for other use cases. My old PS4 is just sitting in my closet gathering dust because I don’t have an old enough firmware that let’s me put Linux on it.

    I guess the fact that consoles are usually loss leaders are a major contributing factor to why these devices are so locked down, but still…In this case, Microsoft is preventing emulation enthusiasts from running in retail mode and partaking in their game store! Maybe they just don’t want the legal repercussions of dealing with Nintendo or something.

    If emulation is your jam, I highly recommend just building a small form factor PC or going with a mini-PC instead. More expensive in the short term, but less troubles and more flexibility in the long-term.