Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

The next version of Windows 10 might let you play Xbox One games on your PC

By
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ever dream of enjoying your entire library of Xbox One games on your PC? Well, that could very soon be a reality as Microsoft is working on bringing native support for Xbox One Games to Windows 10, according to Thurrott.

While Microsoft never explicitly or officially stated support for such a feature, it is instead hidden away in a Windows Insider build 18334, a beta version of the incoming Windows 10 April 2019 Update. According to Thurrott, Microsoft is giving away the game State of Decay for free in this version of Windows 10 so beta testers could try out a new download and install mechanism for Xbox games.

Recommended Videos

Thurrott finds that instead of being downloaded from the Microsoft Store through serverdl.microsoft.com, the game is being pulled from assets1.xboxlive.com. That is a departure from tradition, as most Xbox Games ported to the PC through the Xbox Play anywhere program typically come from the serverdl.microsoft.com server.

Related

Additionally, Thurrott reports that once the installer files are extracted after a download, it is set as the .XVC format. This format is typically used on the Xbox One, but in this beta release can also be installed manually through Windows Powershell, the task automation and configuration management framework in Windows 10. The file even launches a DirectX window which typically only pops up when software and games are installed. Added together, this all shows that the version of State of Decay being tested with Windows Insiders is more than just a PC port, and could indeed be the Xbox One version.

“The company is in the process of making the delivery mechanisms based on the Xbox infrastructure, appears to be making it possible to run Xbox games on the PC, and replacing the existing Store PC games infrastructure on that of what Xbox has built,” Thurrott said.

Although big Xbox One games like Forza Motorsport 7 are already available on PCs through the Xbox Play Anywhere program, native support on Windows 10 could be huge for Xbox One developers. It means they wouldn’t need to write the code for games twice. It also means that Microsoft is further working on a more seamless experience for consumers so that the gaming experience on PCs is the same as it is on Xbox One.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Xbox games on PS5? It’s not as shocking as you think
Key art for Starfield

It's been a busy few weeks for console war soldiers.

Tensions spiked last month when "Nate the Hate," an industry insider with a decent track record, claimed that Hi-Fi Rush was headed to Nintendo Switch. The rumor sparked some mixed feelings among Xbox fans, some of whom expressed dismay over one of the console's system-selling exclusives coming to another platform. Other reports at the time claimed that Rare's Sea of Thieves could also be bound for PlayStation and Switch. That rising anger came to a head this weekend when XboxEra reported that Xbox is planning to launch its biggest exclusive, Starfield, on PS5.

Read more
One of the Apple Vision Pro’s first games lets you play tabletop classics
Apple Vision Pro being worn by a person while using a keyboard.

Developer Resolution Games shared more details on Game Room, its launch title for the Apple Vision Pro that comes out alongside the headset on February 2.

As its name implies, Game Room is a collection of classic tabletop games like chess that Apple Vision Pro users will be able to try out in mixed reality. The Apple Vision Pro's spatial computing allows for a three-dimensional interface in which players can interact with game pieces or cards using just their hands. At launch, Game Room will include Chess, Solitaire, Hearts, Yacht, and Sea Battle (a take on Battleship), although its developers plan to add more games after launch.

Read more
Try one of gaming’s best trilogies before it leaves Xbox Game Pass next week
Hitman 3 Dubai level.

Xbox Game Pass might not be losing a lot of games at the end of January, but the most significant loss is a big one. On January 31, the subscription service is losing Hitman: World of Assassination, which is one of the best stealth gaming experiences out there. Technically, it is a collection of three games’ worth of content, plus an excellent roguelike mode.

Few games can make you feel as clever or as idiotic as IO Interactive’s Hitman games, so World of Assassination is a must-play if you enjoy stealth gameplay and want to see those mechanics explored to their fullest. While the base games are short enough to blaze through in a few sittings, there's way more content here than you could reasonably get through in a week. You better get cracking if you want to try it without paying for the full package.

Read more