Microsoft has just announced that it will ban emulators in Xbox and Windows 10 stores. This can be bad news for players who want to play some older titles. The new rules have officially “closed” the controversy surrounding the selective bans on some Xbox-compatible console emulators last year. The rules also apply to apps that “are primarily gaming experiences or target Xbox One.”
The ban will arrive after players install the Creators Edition patch for Windows 10 stores. Moreover, the ban formally came alongside an update to the rules of the store. One of the affected developers found out about the ban as its Universal Emulator app has been delisted from the store. The developers at NESBox did not give proof of a letter or a notice from Microsoft. However, the update rules do say, “Apps that emulate a game system are not allowed on any device family.” Players can read more about the issue in Arstechnica.
Unfortunately, this can be a bit hassling to some developers. One cannot simply publish a game via the Xbox Live Creators Program quickly. This might mean that cross-platform play may not be readily available, unless they go through the ID@Xbox program. Of course, that comes with fees and other obstacles to hurdle.
Microsoft Emulator Ban
However, these are not the only changes that have arrived alongside the ban. It appears the new set of Windows Store rules have been written for developers. The previous rules contained one sentence. Hopeful developers can try the new ID@Xbox program to have their games released. This process requires pre-approval from Microsoft. This allows them to publish games directly to the Xbox and Windows 10 stores, for a one-time fee to be part of the Live Creators Program.
Meanwhile, the updated rules appear to be less strict when it comes to the approval of apps. This is highly similar to the app stores of Google and Apple devices. There are now 11 subcategories for its Game-specific section. Unfortunately, these do not include anything related to emulators. This means players now are unable to run open sourced and homebrewed software on Xbox One. The new games must also be compatible with the Universal Windows Platform mode.
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