Microsoft seems to give Windows 10 support for Xbox One games
Microsoft seems to be adding instructions to Windows 10 that should make it possible to run Xbox One games with little or no customization. Testing is already underway with a console version of the game State of Decay.
Since February, Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds have included instructions to install a special version of State of Decay and prompts to report issues with it, notes ArsTechnica. Playing that game shouldn’t be a problem, but installing and launching it isn’t always smooth.
The State of Decay game has been available on PC for some time, but while Microsoft doesn’t say anything about it, the company appears to be testing a console version in the new Windows 10 build. Brad Sams writes about it on Thurrot.com. Together with other experts, he researched the game and the associated Microsoft Gaming Services.
That closer inspection reveals that Microsoft is using parts of the Xbox infrastructure in the new Windows 10 build. For example, the test game is downloaded from Xbox servers, not from the regular Store. It uses a .xvc format, which is also used for Xbox One games. The Microsoft Gaming Services contain Xbox infrastructure components such as Xbox API drivers and libraries.
The test version of State of Decay is not a pure Xbox version without modifications. For example, when installed on the PC, the game will try to update DirectX. Still, much seems to indicate that Microsoft wants to make it possible to run Xbox games on Windows PCs; for example, the first test version of Windows 20H1 contains references to the Xbox variant of Direct3D.
Microsoft has been working on bringing Xbox games to Windows 10 for some time now. All games made by Microsoft’s own studios also come out for Windows. Within its Play Anywhere program, Microsoft also offers buyers of digital games the opportunity to play them on both Xbox and PC. However, separate versions are currently being made for PC and consoles. With the upcoming changes in Windows 10, this may no longer be necessary in the future.