Skip to main content

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

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.

Recommended Videos

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.

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.

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.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Windows 10 KB5051974 update adds a new app without asking
A Dell laptop with Windows 10 sitting on a desk.

Microsoft has released the KB5051974 cumulative update for versions 22H2 and 21H2, adding security fixes and patching a memory leak. However, as Bleeping Computer reports, the update also includes a surprise: the new Outlook for Windows app.

The update is mandatory because it includes the January 2025 Patch Tuesday security updates. Once you install it, you will notice the new app icon near the classic one in the Start Menu's apps section. Since the new app can operate concurrently, you don't have to worry about interfering with the old one.

Read more
Microsoft is axing support for its own apps on Windows 10
The Surface Laptop 7 on a table in front of a window.

Microsoft has announced that support for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 will end this year on October 14, as reported by The Verge. This is also the end-of-support date for Windows 10 as a whole, but the move is still a little surprising considering that Microsoft is now offering the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Program.

Anyone who joins this program for $30 can continue to safely use Windows 10 for a whole extra year -- so you might think that Microsoft would let them continue to use the Office apps too. That said, it's not like the apps will disappear, they just won't receive any more updates. According to Microsoft, this could cause "performance and reliability issues over time" but whether these issues will pop up within the ESU program's duration or not is anyone's guess.

Read more
3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (January 10 to 12)
Zoe from Road 96.

Now that 2025 has begun, new games are slowly trickling onto Xbox Game Pass. While heavy hitters like Avowed and South of Midnight aren't here just yet, Microsoft is kicking off the new year by bringing back two amazing indie titles to its gaming subscription service and bringing some entertaining survival games down to the Game Pass Standard tier on console. If you're looking for something to play this weekend, these are the games that I'd recommend.
Road 96
Road 96 - Launch Trailer

Road 96 is a narrative adventure game about teenagers attempting to escape a fictional country called Petria, which is run by an authoritarian machine. It couples the choice-driven structure of Telltale adventure games with a roguelike structure, as each run technically follows a different teenager trying to get to the border. Some are more successful than others, and players can even die if they make the wrong decisions. It makes your individual experience as a player feel more special compared to other choice-based games. As Road 96's themes will only continue to become more relevant this year, it's perfect to kick off 2025 by playing Road 96 on Xbox Game Pass.

Read more