Microsoft officially bans game emulators from Xbox and Windows Store

[CrAKeN]

 

Next week, Microsoft will begin rolling out its Windows 10 Creators Update for PCs, and early adopters can already install it manually right now. The update was released for the Xbox One on March 29 - and on the same day, Microsoft made changes to its Windows Store policies, which now include a complete ban on all game emulators.

 

That particular policy was brought to the attention of NESBox, when its Universal Emulator app was removed from the Windows Store. Its developers said that that action had resulted from an addition to Microsoft's Windows Store Policies, under section 10.13 'Gaming and Xbox', which states: "Apps that emulate a game system are not allowed on any device family."

 

As Ars Technica noted, emulators have previously crept onto the Windows Store, and even onto the Xbox One, but with the latest update to its policies, Microsoft is clearly cracking down on such software with a more consistent approach.

 

NESBox said that despite the policy changes, gamers will still be able to enjoy its emulators on the web. "This means nothing for the browser version," it said in a tweet. "It doesn't depend [on] 'stores'."

 

Source