Microsoft lets you run decent emulators even on the smaller console, the Xbox Series S, via its developer mode.

We also wrote earlier that the “little brother” could run RetroArch, DuckStation, or PCSX2 emulators with quite good performance using the Developer mode. For 20 dollars, you can create a developer account and enable the developer mode on your Xbox console.

It appeared that the Redmond-based company would disable developer accounts for those who do not use their accounts to publish and upload content on the Microsoft Store. And anyone who is not a developer, but for example, testing homebrew (software put together for home use) on it, or perhaps emulate games, wouldn’t plan on using the developer mode and the account in such a way.

Microsoft blocking access to developer mode has popped up on the GBATemp forum, which led to Modern Vintage Gamer posting a video on YouTube after he received an email from Microsoft citing the inactivity mentioned in the previous paragraph. This video was initially the end of the news, but developments have happened in the meantime, so the word NOT is rightly there in the title.

Jason Ronald, Xbox’s director of product management, wrote on Twitter, “We have no plans to remove or disable Developer Mode on Xbox consoles. We believe in and support a healthy independent app and game development community on Xbox. As part of a regularly scheduled maintenance to clean up inactive accounts, several Partner Center accounts used to enable Developer Mode on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles were inadvertently deactivated. We are actively working on identifying and reenabling these accounts as soon as possible.

Once an account has been reactivated, users will be able to reenable Developer Mode on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. If your account was accidentally deactivated and you would like to restore access sooner, feel free to contact ReportApp [at] microsoft [dot] com. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we are working to remedy this as quickly as possible and thanks for your patience,” Ronald wrote. It turned out to be a bug in their system. Good.

Source: WCCFTech