​

Microsoft has been dealing with a lot of iffy applications and software running amok in their stores since they enabled almost anyone to get a hold of development access to their systems starting from the Xbox One console (done mostly as a detriment to avoid their systems getting hacked, like what happened with the Xbox 360).

Due to that, there has been a constant fight between devs and Microsoft to get rid of those unauthorized applications from appearing in their store. Some might have seen some threads going around about RetroArch running through Retail Mode on Xbox consoles, and while RetroArch did end up in the store from time to time, the people in charge of the port had to constantly deal with Microsoft taking down the application constantly.

However, it seems like Microsoft got tired of this game of cat and mouse, and has finally decided to disable and prevent running any type of emulator application from running on any Xbox console altogether, with any attempt to launch an emulator app throwing error code 0x87E1002D.

The developers have shared the recent news on the Xbox Emulation Hub Discord server with the following:

It's been a good run guys!
As of today, it looks like Microsoft finally decided to fight back, and that faster takedowns weren't good enough.
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/errors/error-code-0x87e1002d

Error 0x87e1002d
"This game or app can't be launched as it violates the Microsoft Store Policy."

If you want any hope of Retail Mode emulation ever making a comeback NOW is the time to fight them on it.
Take it to Twitter, take it wherever you can and complain to Xbox about this decision.

So what are our current options for emulation on Xbox?
- Dev Mode is still very much an option.
You can either pay the stupid $20 / €20 fee, or you can simply make a new account set to TURKEY and pay $2 / €2, literally 1/10th the price.
- If your currently installed retail mode apps still work.
This will likely not last long, and they probably already don't work anymore.

-Will continue doing retail mode uploads from here on out?
Probably not. Unless this gets resolved, I'm going to focus on publishing weekly Dev Mode updates in #dev-announcements with our specialised cores for RetroArch.

While running the emulators through Dev Mode is still viable, it is unknown if Microsoft will tackle Dev mod next in any capacity, and it's still unknown if running applications like these from Retail mode will be available at all in any foreseeable future.

Xbox Emulation Hub Official Discord Server
Error code webpage on Xbox's site

 

[godreborn]

​

Microsoft has been dealing with a lot of iffy applications and software running amok in their stores since they enabled almost anyone to get a hold of development access to their systems starting from the Xbox One console (done mostly as a detriment to avoid their systems getting hacked, like what happened with the Xbox 360).

Due to that, there has been a constant fight between devs and Microsoft to get rid of those unauthorized applications from appearing in their store. Some might have seen some threads going around about RetroArch running through Retail Mode on Xbox consoles, and while RetroArch did end up in the store from time to time, the people in charge of the port had to constantly deal with Microsoft taking down the application constantly.

However, it seems like Microsoft got tired of this game of cat and mouse, and has finally decided to disable and prevent running any type of emulator application from running on any Xbox console altogether, with any attempt to launch an emulator app throwing error code 0x87E1002D.

The developers have shared the recent news on the Xbox Emulation Hub Discord server with the following:



While running the emulators through Dev Mode is still viable, it is unknown if Microsoft will tackle Dev mod next in any capacity, and it's still unknown if running applications like these from Retail mode will be available at all in any foreseeable future.

Xbox Emulation Hub Official Discord Server
Error code webpage on Xbox's site

I saw this on discord as well, so I tested Retroarch on my console. It booted up fine, so are these new installs where you have to open them at least once before they're taken down or else they won't work?

 

[dh3lix-pooch]

Well...was only a matter of time wasnt it? Doubt they will cut of this in DEV mode tho.

 

[Reploid]

MS is not cool again.

 

[DSoryu]

Well, It was good while it lasted.

Say hi to hackers jailbreaking your console, MS.

 

[scoobydude51]

I betcha it was due to the UWP apps that were recently released: Xenia, Dolphin, Duckstation, and Flycast.

Plus we all know that Microsoft has tried to ban emulators before since they were attempting to remove/ban people in dev mode for running emulators, but of course due to pressure from people on social media, reverted that decision.

Post automatically merged: Apr 6, 2023

Well...was only a matter of time wasnt it? Doubt they will cut of this in DEV mode tho.

They did try that like last year so this is probably them attempting that again.

 

[Hayato213]

What a cat and mice game, atleast I got rid of my xbox Series S before this whole dilemma

 

[scoobydude51]

Of course Nintendo is responsible for this…

 

[godreborn]

okay, it's now doing it to me as well. dev mode apps still work fine. those are unlikely ever to be removed or that system is going to get hacked up the ass.

 

[JuanMena]

Microsoft should be more worried about fixing their OS Windows instead of "fixing" a console.
Really, these days, the end user has literally no rights over owned hardware.

 

[Kioku]

“Fight it”

… and do what, exactly? Complain that we’re not allowed to emulate games on our Xboxes? Lol?

 

[Dragozard]

I just posted about this
https://gbatemp.net/threads/retail-mode-is-dead.630525/

 

[Kioku]

Of course Nintendo is responsible for this…

Reading more of those comments it does seem like they (Xbox) actually want to allow emulators on the store front?

 

[ShadowOne333]

Of course Nintendo is responsible for this…

It wouldn't surprise me tbh.
Nintendo's way of handling their backlog of games is just shit no matter how one puts it, and NSO is nothing but a rental service at best, with the actual online service being crap compared to their competitors, and the actual customers don't own shit compared to Virtual Console.
If at all, I'd say Sony would also side with Nintendo in this regard, but emulation has been around for ages with good legal precedence, so it'd be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
But just to wrap this up, fuck Nintendo specifically.

 

[godreborn]

It wouldn't surprise me tbh.
Nintendo's way of handling their backlog of games is just shit no matter how you but it, and NSO is nothing but a rental service at beast, with the actual online service being crap compared to their competitors.
If at all, I'd say Sony would also side with Nintendo in this regard, but emulation has been around for ages with good legal precedence, so it'd be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
But just to wrap this up, fuck Nintendo specifically.

well, Nintendo is just digging itself a bigger hole. I've bought over 200 games for the switch, and now I really regret it. the next Nintendo console I'm hacking when/if it gets hacked and pirating what I can. I bet you anything it was NoA specifically if Nintendo is indeed responsible.

 

[ShadowOne333]

well, Nintendo is just digging itself a bigger hole. I've bought over 200 games for the switch, and now I really regret it. the next Nintendo console I'm hacking when/if it gets hacked and pirating what I can. I bet you anything it was NoA specifically if Nintendo is indeed responsible.

Amen.
Nintendo's action towards customers and fans alike is what drove me away from their bullshit.
I haven't purchased a single Nintendo game since Tropical Freeze originally dropped on the Wii U, ever since then, Nintendo hasn't seen a single penny out of me, nor will they ever again.
It's a shame that people just blindly keep supporting their tyrannical crap, not only in regards to their legal team, but also when it comes to feedback and customer support, they're a shit company that just tends to release decent games, that's all.

 

[raxadian]

If Microsoft cripples Dev mode their videogame consoles will start to get hacked so that will most likely stay.

 

[Ettino]

Series S Dev mode is still good for now I guess. This is why we can't have nice thing.

 

[samcambolt270]

I saw this on discord as well, so I tested Retroarch on my console. It booted up fine, so are these new installs where you have to open them at least once before they're taken down or else they won't work?

Give it another try. It seems that it takes the system a moment to revoke the access.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

I don't own a xbox to know, but what's the difference between the retail mode and dev mode besides paying a fee to use it?