Nintendo Switch games have been shown running on Xbox Series X through an emulator operating in the console's Developer Mode, adding another unusual example of modern console hardware being used to run software from competing platforms.
The emulator appears to be based on Eden, with footage showing Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Metroid Prime Beyond successfully booting on Microsoft's console.
The project is still poorly documented, and there is no detailed information yet about performance, compatibility or how widely it has been tested. Still, the early footage suggests that Switch emulation on Xbox Series X is technically possible.
Xbox Developer Mode Is Required
Like other homebrew and emulation projects on Xbox, this setup requires Developer Mode.
Developer Mode gives approved users access to a more open environment for testing Universal Windows Platform applications and other development software.
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Console | Xbox Series X |
| Emulator basis | Appears to use Eden |
| Required mode | Developer Mode |
| Super Mario Odyssey | Boots |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Boots |
| Metroid Prime Beyond | Boots |
| Public compatibility list | Not provided |
| Full performance details | Not yet available |
The emulator therefore does not run through the normal retail Xbox environment.
That distinction matters because Developer Mode has historically been the main route for homebrew applications and emulators on modern Xbox hardware.
Early Footage Shows Several Switch Games Booting
The most notable part of the project is that multiple Nintendo Switch titles have already been demonstrated.
Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Metroid Prime Beyond are all shown booting through the emulator.
The supplied information does not provide detailed frame rate measurements, graphical comparisons or stability testing, so it is too early to judge how well these games actually perform during extended play.
Booting successfully is an important technical milestone, but it does not necessarily mean every game is fully playable from beginning to end.
Compatibility can vary significantly between emulators and individual games, especially when demanding graphics features, shaders or unusual hardware behavior are involved.
The Emulator May Be a UWP Port of Eden
The implementation appears to be based on Eden, although the exact development process has not been confirmed.
One possibility raised in the supplied material is that the project is a Universal Windows Platform port adapted to run on Xbox Series X.
There is also speculation that AI assisted development may have been involved, but no direct evidence is provided confirming how much, if any, AI tooling was used.
Until the developers publish technical documentation or release the project publicly, those details remain uncertain.
Emulation and Game Ownership Are Separate Issues
Emulation software itself is not automatically equivalent to piracy, but game distribution and ownership remain separate legal questions.
The project does not change the requirement for players to obtain game data through legitimate means.
The supplied information does not explain the setup process or how game files are loaded, so there is not enough detail to describe the complete workflow.
That is particularly relevant with Nintendo platforms, where emulator projects and game distribution have faced significant legal scrutiny.
Xbox Series X Is Becoming an Unusual Emulation Platform
The Switch demonstration follows other recent experiments involving competing console software running on Xbox hardware.
That makes Developer Mode increasingly interesting for enthusiasts experimenting with emulation and homebrew applications.
The more important question now is not whether Switch games can boot, but how well the emulator performs across a broader range of titles.
If development continues, future testing should reveal whether the Xbox Series X can deliver stable frame rates, accurate graphics and reliable compatibility across a meaningful portion of the Nintendo Switch library.
For now, the project remains an early technical demonstration, but successfully booting major Switch games on Xbox Series X already shows how capable the console's Developer Mode environment can be.
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