650°

Microsoft Pulls Down Nintendo 64 Emulator from XB One Store

Nintendo 64 Emulator app called Win64e10, which let users play classic Nintendo 64 titles on Xbox One, has now been taken down by Microsoft.

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gamerick.com
ninsigma2767d ago

I didn't think this would last.

LordMaim2767d ago

No kidding. This shouldn't have surprised anyone.

BullyMangler2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

Years and years, gamers excited for N64 emmulations!

Besides the original NES, the N64 seems to be (THE ) consoLe of most desire, for emulation .. .

not the ps1

not the 360

but the .. .

Nintendo

6

4

Kombatologist2767d ago

@bullymangLer

Not sure if I'm misunderstanding your question, but PS1 emulation is actually further along than N64 emulation. Mednafen trumps even ePSXe.

Red_Renegade2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

i think he was trying to troll, meaning nobody wants to emulate the ps1. more likely cuz there are so many ways to play ps1 games already. 100 million ps1s, 150 million ps2s, millions of ps3s, psps, and vitas.

2767d ago
XanderZane2767d ago

@bruce755
You just have to troll, don't you. lol!! I don't need a N64 or PS1 emulator as I still have the systems and games to plays them on. My cousin had an arcade emulator system built into a arcade cabinet. It had over 300 arcade classic games. That was the only emulator that impressed me as there were arcade games like Tempest (with the wheel), Matmania, Track & Field, Millipede, Deluxe Asteroid, Star Wars, Bagman, Dig Dug, Tapper and Mappy. I was in heaven. Unfortunately he had to move and sold the unit on Craig's List.

2767d ago
Master of Unlocking2767d ago

Take a look at the hate some people like me received in previous threads when we tried to warn them this was coming, you'll understand this actually comes to a surprise to many.
All right, here's a nice song to try and ease the pain (and with a little bit of luck I won't get 20+ disagrees again just for stating the obvious):
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

EnigmaSG12766d ago

People want N64 emulation so bad like Dolphin, only so they can boost the games higher than the average of 15fps that plagued the OG system. ;)

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 2766d ago
DragonbornZ2767d ago

I think the other emulator is working with some kind of "loophole".
If the creator of this one is as adamant about having it on the store as the other one it'll probably be back up later.

2767d ago
ccgr2767d ago

Surprised it lasted as long as it did

TheCommentator2767d ago

The app was pulled because it violated MS terms of service. When Nesbox was pulled, it was cited specifically by MS that the emulator qualified as a game, not an app. MS said it would need to have been submitted to ID@xbox for approval. I assume it is the same here, but who knows. I still don't see what the big deal is when you can legally obtain emulators anywhere else.

Also, the article appeared to be suggesting that the emulator came with games? If that's the case, then the guy who made it is in some serious trouble with Nintendo as well.

XanderZane2767d ago

Microsoft took down the first NES emulator, so this was no surprise. This emulator seems very buggy anyways. Why anyone would pay $10 for it is beyond me.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2766d ago
Princess_Pilfer2767d ago

I'm surprised

That anyone actually paid for an emulator. Seriously, a decent smart phone and a controller (or a cracked PSVita, or a PC) will let you emulate the N64 for free.

UCForce2767d ago

Well, Nintendo would sue Microsoft that for sure.

zeal0us2767d ago

Nope they can't because emulators are legal.

DragonDDark2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

The ROM is illegal though. Unless he owns it

LexHazard792767d ago

They cant sue MS but they can definitely go after your Internet provider. And you provider would then send you an email to stop infringement

4Sh0w2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

Nope, this has been going on with pc forever, they wouldn't win, Microsoft created the Xbox One to run licensed games & Win10....it's a platform. They didn't make this emulator, but they pulled it down so they won't be accused of encouraging this behavior. Not to be overdramatic but it's sort of like accusing a car maker of misconduct because someone chose to drink and drive.

*Note: Microsoft has pulled other emulators before this one.

rainslacker2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

@4Show

On PC, who do you sue?

On a closed system however, Nintendo could sue, or put pressure on MS, because they are enabling a program which can be used for piracy.

All legal loopholes aside, it's not as black and white as some people make it.

MS likely would have taken this down anyhow, as I doubt they gain much from it, and they probably don't want the legal quagmire it could become. Even if they were sued, and managed to win in court and keep selling the emulator, it's a costly endevour to pay lawyers for such purposes, and I doubt they see much revenue from the emulator itself, and I doubt the existence of the emulator makes a strong selling point for the console itself. Not to mention it opens the doors for emulators of their own software to be put up on other systems as well, so it's more of a thing that was likely a mutual consideration.

MS doesn't support piracy anymore than the other console makers do, so they will be more prone to protecting the interest of the industry in general. On top of that, they wouldn't want the publisher pressure to not enable such things on a system where they can directly control such things, because those publishers may very well have an interest in not allowing those old ROM's be played on that system for some reason....say they want to release those games on the store like they do with the Virtual Console on the WiiU.

What it comes down to is that MS can decide if it will sell a certain product on it's store. They control the store, and they aren't obligated to support this emulator, or any other. The longer they do such things, the more problems it's going to cause for them, and to me, it isn't in their best interest just so people can have some bragging rights, or they can gain some marginal advantage that an emulator may bring to their system.

4Sh0w2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

Who do you sue?

Uhm Well I think if Nintendo actually cared about these emulators after a bit of research they'd track down the makers of the emulator and sue them/shut them down...not likely they have much to sue for. Again Microsoft simply owns the vehicle for which some have misused, rarely has any lawsuit ever been creditable when you are suing someone for damages who isnt the one who purposely caused the damage, tech company occasionaly are sued for breach of security only because they have a inherent responsibilty to protect privacy of their consumers. In this case this data is old games already publically available. Which is why I think any law suit against Microsoft would fail, especially given Microsoft response in taking them down...and would be very costly for the other side as well. You see the law doesn't have the view that you can't create something for a lawful purpose just because someone might exploit it for another purpose. NO, the law says go after the wrong dooer.

Other than that your post is pretty much is a longer post that is saying the same thing I said briefly.

rainslacker2767d ago

@4Show

Not saying you're wrong or anything, because honestly, it is kind of a legal quagmire.

But that quagmire is why MS could just not deal with it. The Xbox division itself has an interest to many publishers who may feel they could have negative effects based on an emulator. At the same time, it could open the doors for any other company to simply allow an emulator on their own console, thus MS is in a position to have to try and explain why it's OK for them to do it, while they decry it on another system.

The quagmire alone may not even be worth MS trying to defend either, just from a monetary stand point.

What it boils down to, is that it's really not that financially beneficial for MS to support this emulator. Even looking at it from a ROM's perspective, they can potentially lose money on a sale from their store for older games that may be released on it, because people would more likely purchase an official release if they don't own an emulator, or have the ROMs to play it on the system. Of course, this is how companies think, not what may happen in actual practice, but the years have shown it's about the publisher perception of piracy on which they make their policies.

XanderZane2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

Yes,emulators are LEGAL and the game ROMS are NOT LEGAL. Unless you already own the game and can prove it. The emulator doesn't come with any ROMS. He download the ROMS on his PC to his OneDrive. They can't sue M$, but they can sue the guy who downloaded ROMS.

4Sh0w2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

@rainslacker, I think there is a misunderstanding here, read what I said carefully.

lol, I don't get it I am saying exactly the same thing, the only thing I questioned is that I don't believe Nintendo could win such a lawsuit against Microsoft. Again but I'm not saying Microsoft should leave it up or risk any kind of disagreement with Nintendo just because legally they have not broken the law. Sometimes it's better to just play it safe, so again I'm stressing I never said it was worthwhile or anything, I simply disputed the legality of suing the platform manufacturer instead of the creator of the emulator= not sure what you're even disagreeing with me about???...but yeah again Microsoft played it smart and took it down, nothing else here to see.

rainslacker2767d ago

@4Show

In that case, I guess I agree with you.:)

I just tend to be wordy.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 2767d ago
mhunterjr2767d ago (Edited 2767d ago )

Sue who? It's not the emulator that is illegal. It's the distribution of ROMs that is illegal.

There are several emulators in the Win10 store (including this one) that have been there for a while.

Any company that has tried to sue to stop the distribution of an emulator has failed in court.

Red_Renegade2767d ago

but it would prolly be different when it comes to video game consoles, don't you think?

mhunterjr2767d ago

@red_renegade

The law is the law. It doesn't change depending on if a device is classified a PC or console.

MS probably took the app down due to public perception and the ramifications of setting a standard of emulating rival hardware... Not because they feared getting sued.

Red_Renegade2767d ago

i don't think the law had consoles in mind. they're direct competitors, after all.

mhunterjr2766d ago

@red_renegade

Until there is a law that does have consoles in mind, there are no grounds to sue.

As it stands, it isn't illegal to distribute emulators. Period.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2766d ago
EnigmaSG12767d ago

People are forgetting one thing when making, 'but it is on the PC' comparisons.

Consoles are a closed licensed platform. It puts it in a whole different ballpark when it comes to things such as this, 'emulator's being legal' or not. Microsoft understands this, thus the action they took.

The PC does not have regional 'licensing', and hopefully it stays that way.

nitus102766d ago

You are quite right the PC does not have regional licensing, however if you have a Microsoft operating system you have effectively agreed to a form of regional licensing.

When you start your Microsoft operating system for the first time you have to agree to the End User License Agreement (EULA) which in the case of pretty much everyone is never read but agreed to anyway.

At this stage, I will let the reader do some homework. In your favourite search engine type the following "windows 10 privacy concerns" (you can be more creative if you wish). If you are using Google as your search engine you are going to get over 3 million hits although the first page of listings is enough to question what you have said.

From a personal perspective, my PC does not have any regional licensing since I don't run a Microsoft operating system. Can you honestly say the same when you are running your PC with a Microsoft operating system?

EnigmaSG12766d ago

Agreed Nitus10, but you know what I meant. ;)

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280°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv721d 6h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle17h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic188114h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio14h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning779h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga16h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv723h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

shinoff218316h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga15h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan10h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit3h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus239h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv729h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
purple10119h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos19h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-8h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac18h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad18h ago(Edited 18h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10117h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos17h ago(Edited 17h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic16h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead9h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 9h ago
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80°

Razer Kishi Ultra Review - Remote Play and Mobile Gaming Goes XL

PSLS writes: I have traveled across the country using the Razer Kishi Ultra in airports and hotels for both PlayStation Remote Play and mobile gaming in general, and I am thoroughly impressed.

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playstationlifestyle.net
150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers1d 15h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos1d ago (Edited 1d ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken1d 2h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g1d 12h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing1d 11h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H91d 11h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola1d 8h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn6691d 10h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle1d 10h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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