A new open source project called Xodus is working to make Xbox PC games and Xbox Game Pass titles playable locally on Linux devices, including the Steam Deck.
The project is being developed by one of the people behind the Heroic Games Launcher and aims to reverse engineer Microsoft’s newer PC game framework so Linux systems can authenticate Xbox accounts, verify game licenses and download supported titles.
Several important pieces are already working, including Xbox login support, license checking and game downloads. The harder step is still ahead: actually launching and running those games reliably on Linux.
Xodus project status
| Feature | Current status |
|---|---|
| Xbox account login | Working |
| Game license detection | Working |
| Game downloading | Working |
| Local game launching | Still in development |
| Xbox Game Pass support | Planned |
| Purchased Xbox PC games | Planned |
| Microsoft GDK titles | Targeted |
| MSIXVC games | Targeted |
| Older UWP games | Not planned |
| Steam Deck compatibility | Potentially possible through Linux support |
If the project succeeds, it could remove one of the largest remaining gaps in the Steam Deck’s software ecosystem.
Xbox PC games remain difficult to run on Linux
Linux gaming has improved significantly over the past several years.
Steam has extensive Linux support through Proton, while third party launchers have made it possible to access games from stores such as Epic Games Store and GOG.
Microsoft’s Xbox PC ecosystem has remained more difficult.
Xbox Cloud Gaming can already be used on the Steam Deck through a browser or third party applications, but that requires streaming the game from Microsoft’s servers.
It does not allow you to install a Game Pass PC title directly on the Steam Deck and run it locally.
Xodus is trying to change that.
Project already handles Xbox authentication and downloads
One of the difficult parts of supporting Xbox PC games is Microsoft’s licensing and packaging system.
Xodus has reportedly reached the point where it can authenticate an Xbox account and determine which games that account owns or has access to through a subscription.
It can also download those games.
That is an important milestone because Xbox PC titles do not use the same distribution structure as standard Windows applications installed through traditional executable files.
The remaining challenge is translating enough of Microsoft’s gaming framework for those downloaded games to function correctly under Linux.
Support will focus on newer Microsoft game formats
Xodus is specifically targeting games built around Microsoft’s newer GDK and MSIXVC formats.
That should cover many modern Xbox PC releases and current Game Pass games.
Older titles based on Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform format are not currently part of the plan.
That means games from the Windows 8 and early Windows 10 era may remain unsupported.
Examples include titles such as Forza Horizon 3 and Gears of War 4, which were released during a period when Microsoft relied heavily on UWP for PC distribution.
| Microsoft format | Xodus support plan |
|---|---|
| GDK | Targeted |
| MSIXVC | Targeted |
| UWP | Not currently planned |
This limitation means Xodus would not immediately make the entire history of the Microsoft Store library available on Linux.
It could still cover a large and increasingly important portion of the current catalog.
Steam Deck could benefit significantly
The Steam Deck is one of the clearest potential beneficiaries.
Valve’s handheld uses SteamOS, which is based on Linux, and most Windows games run through Proton.
Xbox Game Pass remains one of the major exceptions because the PC subscription relies heavily on Microsoft’s own Windows infrastructure.
Today, Steam Deck owners who want native access to Game Pass PC downloads generally need to install Windows or use another computer.
Xodus could eventually offer a more convenient path while keeping SteamOS installed.
That would also help other Linux gaming handhelds and desktop PCs.
Local Game Pass support is not ready yet
Despite the progress, Xodus should still be viewed as an experimental project.
Xbox authentication and game downloads are only part of what is required.
Games still need to launch correctly, communicate with Microsoft services where necessary and work with compatibility layers used by Linux.
Different games may also depend on anti cheat systems, online services or other Windows components that create additional compatibility problems.
There is therefore no guarantee that every modern Xbox PC game will eventually work.
Still, successful local support for even a substantial portion of the Game Pass catalog would address one of the biggest limitations facing Linux gaming today.
For Steam Deck owners, Xodus could eventually make it possible to use an Xbox Game Pass PC subscription without relying entirely on cloud streaming or replacing SteamOS with Windows.
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