Xenia Canary Devs Deny Working with Microsoft on Xbox Classics Program
The development team behind Xenia Canary, the most advanced Xbox 360 emulator for PC, has officially denied any involvement with Microsoft's rumored Xbox Classics program, which allegedly aims to bring legacy Xbox titles to modern platforms.
In a statement posted on the team’s official Discord server—and later circulated on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit—the developers made it clear:
“We are not working with Microsoft in any capacity. Microsoft uses its own emulation technology for backward compatibility on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and they have no need for collaboration with Xenia if they ever pursue a similar initiative for PC.”
This clarification comes amid a growing wave of speculation that Microsoft is preparing a "Classics" initiative, possibly timed to the 25th anniversary of the Xbox brand in 2026. While the leaker who initially reported on the Xbox Classics project continues to stand by their claims, Xenia’s team distancing themselves from the rumor does cast some doubt on the specifics—particularly around emulator collaboration.
Why the Xenia Statement Matters
Though some have theorized that an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) could prevent Xenia from revealing any ongoing collaboration, the team’s public and direct denial strongly suggests that no such arrangement exists. If there were a legally binding NDA in place, a non-response or vague “no comment” would have been more likely than a clear and direct disavowal.
Furthermore, Microsoft has historically relied on in-house emulation and porting technologies. The company’s backward compatibility program—launched during the Xbox One era—already uses a proprietary emulation layer to run Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles. Extending such functionality to PC via Xbox App or Game Pass doesn’t necessarily require third-party emulators, which may not meet internal standards for security, performance, or licensing.
What This Means for the Xbox Classics Program
The absence of collaboration with Xenia doesn’t kill the Xbox Classics rumor entirely. Microsoft may still be working on something to commemorate its 25-year legacy—potentially via:
Re-releases or remasters of fan-favorite titles
Wider backward compatibility on modern Xbox hardware
PC ports via Game Pass or Xbox App integration
Cloud streaming access for legacy Xbox games
While there's still no official confirmation from Microsoft, the Xenia team’s clear distancing means that emulation enthusiasts hoping for official integration with Xbox’s legacy content pipeline may need to temper expectations, at least for now.
Do you think Microsoft should work with community projects like Xenia to preserve and re-release classic games? Or should it continue to rely on its own emulation framework? Drop your thoughts below.
