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

By Arif Bacchus February 26, 2019

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.

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

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…

Computing

Windows 11 tips and tricks: 8 hidden settings you need to try

Windows 11 on a tablet.

Windows 11 has been around for quite a while now. The operating system isn't as new as when it first came out in 2021, but many people are still updating it for the first time from Windows 10. Yet whether you're new to Windows 11 or have been using it since launch, there are a few things that you still might want to tweak to get a better experience. Microsoft doesn't have all these settings upfront, but we're here to surface them for you.
Move the Taskbar and Start Menu to the left

One of the biggest differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 is the location of the Taskbar and Start Menu. On Windows 10, the Taskbar and Start Menu are positioned to the left of the screen. Windows 11, though, changes that by moving both to the center. If this annoys you, then you can easily change it back.

Gaming

All cross-platform games (PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Two squads of heroes clash in an Overwatch 2 trailer.

Cross-platform support is becoming more important in the world of video games. Multiplayer hits like Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite have pushed crossplay into the limelight, and now most AAA multiplayer games release with at least partial cross-platform support. Finding every cross-platform game is no easy feat, though, so we did the hard work to bring you a comprehensive list of games that support crossplay.

Unfortunately, there aren't any rules when it comes to crossplay, so each game handles the feature a little differently. To make matters more confusing, certain backward-compatible games on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X still support crossplay on the most recent hardware, even if there isn't an official release for that hardware.

Gaming

If you love Amazon’s Fallout, play the series’ best games on Game Pass and PS Plus next

Two characters in power armor in Fallout 4.

The Fallout TV series just released on Amazon Prime, and it's one of the best video game adaptations out there. It perfectly captures the tense, humorous feel of the postapocalyptic video game series while telling a new story with original characters. If you've just watched the show, you're probably itching to play a Fallout title again or check out one of the games the series is based on for the first time. Thankfully, if you're subscribed to one of the major video game subscription services, that's very easy to do.

Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76 are all on at least one gaming subscription service. While PC and Xbox players will be looking to Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation owners can get in on the fun with PS Plus Extra's game catalog. We've combed through what's available on PC Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass, and PS Plus Extra, and there's no shortage of options. Here are the best starting points on each service.
PC Game Pass