Xbox PC games, available through the Xbox app, face significant challenges when it comes to running on Linux systems. This issue arises from Microsoft’s proprietary Game Development Kit (GDK) runtime environment, which not only hampers the performance of these games but also disrupts the functionality of Game Pass, despite the company’s support for cloud streaming of Game Pass titles.
Innovative Solutions on the Horizon
In response to this predicament, a new open-source initiative named “Xodus” has emerged from the developers behind Heroic Launcher. This ambitious project aims to reverse engineer and emulate the essential components required for Xbox PC games to operate seamlessly on Linux platforms.
Xodus is primarily focused on modern Xbox PC titles that utilize the GDK and their associated MSIXVC packages. However, it does not extend its reach to older Universal Windows Platform (UWP) games, such as Gears of War 4 and the earlier installments of the Forza Horizon series. The underlying issue with these older titles is not related to the DirectX API or x86 instructions, as tools like Proton and DXVK/VKD3D are already capable of translating those elements. This explains why some users can still run Xbox PC games on Linux if they manage to acquire DRM-free executables.
Recently, Microsoft has made strides in expanding its gaming portfolio by bringing four original Xbox titles to PC, with indications that more are on the way. Leaked documents suggest that Xbox 360 titles may also make their debut on PC next year, complete with an integrated Xbox 360 emulator. However, it remains uncertain whether these upcoming releases will utilize the same GDK framework as the native Xbox PC titles.
