You know what’s better than playing modern games on an Xbox Series console? Using Microsoft’s current hardware to emulate Windows 98 and play retro games on it. Thankfully, thanks to the integration of RetroArch (a program that also allows some Xbox users). Play PlayStation 2 games), for which a plug-in is called DOSBox Pureand a copy of Windows 98, Digital casting just showed that it can be done. A the video was released on Saturday shows games like Turok, Roller Coaster Tycoonand Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun all running on Xbox Series X. Digital casting it even runs traditional applications like Microsoft Paint and Word 97 on the Xbox (for that a true Clippy experience).

All this is not so easy to build. First, you need to run RetroArch on your Xbox, then you can do this Enabling Developer ModeIt costs $19 or passes through a slightly twisted side loading process. Be warned: Arcades Games, the channel behind the No Dev Mode guide, notes that using the latter method comes with the small (but real) risk of getting your Xbox Live account banned.

After installing RetroArch on Xbox, you can easily enable DOSBox Pure kernel. Of course, this is not the end of the journey. You still have to install Windows 98 on top of DOS using a (legally acquired, right?) disk image for the OS. He is like that no small task. Then you need to transfer the images of your retro games to Xbox.

After overcoming all these, Digital casting says that the experience is quite impressive. Games run well on both the S and X series (obviously the extra power of the latter improves the experience a bit), though software rendering works better than 3dfx emulation. DFs tests. However, there is one big caveat: Digital casting reports that while DOSBox Pure detects the keyboard connected to the Xbox without any problems, it fails to pick up the mouse. This meant they used an Xbox controller to move the cursor around the screen.

Of course, for those who only want to run Windows 98 games, there are probably better options. You can install RetroArch and DOSBox Pure on a regular Windows, Mac or Linux machine, where you won’t see the Xbox Live ban (however weak) when you play. Plus, you’ll be able to use a real mouse. However, I’ll admit that installing Windows 98 on a regular old PC isn’t going to get you the same style points as you do on an Xbox.

PS: If the thought of installing Windows 98 from DOS sounds too intimidating, you’re in luck. The 90s and early 2000s are back in the nostalgia era, so we’ve seen a ton of games from that era get remasters. In RTS games? You can buy HD versions Age of empires and Command & Conquer: Red Alert From steam (or See OpenRA). It goes for the same Earthquake, Monkey Island, Half life (via Black Mesa project) and many more, many games. What a time to live.