We’re only a few weeks into the next generation of consoles, and a method of emulating games has been discovered for the Xbox Series S.
Youtuber Modern Vintage Gamer posted a video showcasing how various older games can be played on the recently released Series S specifically. These emulated systems include the Nintendo Gamecube, the original Sony Playstation, and even handheld hardware like the Nintendo DS.
To do this, you don’t need to hack or install custom firmware on your system. All you need to do is use the Xbox Store and buy an app called Dev Mode Activation. You’ll have to pay $20, but the method appears safer and simpler than other custom emulators’ methods on consoles. The Dev Mode app allows users to run third-party apps on the Series S, including emulators. Presumably, this should also work on the Series X.
The video by MVG includes footage of various retro games such as The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Super Mario Galaxy, and Goldeneye. There are some notable performance issues such as frame rate dips, but the games still perform pretty well.
As for trying this out for yourself, that’s going to be nearly impossible at the moment unless you already own the console. Both the Xbox Series S, Series X, and even the PlayStation 5 have been sold out everywhere. Microsoft has already mentioned that it might not be until early 2021 before getting more consoles ready to be sold online and in stores.