Can You Play PC Games on Xbox Series X?

Xbox Series X and PCs (operating on the Windows OS) technically both belong to the same ecosystem thanks to Microsoft being their parent company.

Hence, it is only natural to ask, can you play PC games on Xbox Series X? Well, the answer to this question is a yes and a no.

Basically, the vast majority of the games, especially the newer AAA titles, that you buy on PC or Xbox Series X, cannot be played on any other system.

However, there is a glimmer of hope in cloud gaming and certain digital titles with the Play Anywhere tag that can be played on both Xbox and PC.

In this article, I will explore this topic further and dive deeper into the possibilities of playing PC games on Xbox Series X or vice versa.

The PC and Console Gaming Divide

Historically, the line between PC and console gaming has been quite distinct.

PC games are usually developed to be more flexible as they are made to take advantage of the wide range of hardware configurations, and more open software environment that PCs provide.

On the other hand, console games are typically designed for a specific set of hardware. They are a bit more restrictive as evident through their support for strict display modes. Developers for gaming consoles optimize the gaming experience for the specific hardware feature in a certain console.

However, with gamers demanding more and more flexibility, the line between the consoles and PC is getting thinner.

So Can You Play PC Games on Xbox Series X?

As alluded to earlier, the answer to this question is a yes and a no.

Basically, the vast majority of the PC games CANNOT be played on Xbox Series X. If you think all PC games or Xbox games can be played on either of the systems then you will be disappointed.

However, there is some glimmer of hope in the shape of “Play Anywhere Titles” and “GeForce Now Support” with which you can play PC games on Series X.

1. Play Anywhere Titles

As the name suggests, the Play Anywhere Titles are special games that you buy once and can be played anywhere either on Xbox or on PC.

However, there are a few caveats here.

The first is that these games are Digital games. In other words, Play Anywhere titles are NOT disc-based games.

Secondly, these titles have to be bought through the Xbox Store.

In other words, if you buy the game through any other client such as Steam, EA Origin, Epic Store, then the Play Anywhere feature will NOT work.

And finally, you will note that the vast majority of the Play Anywhere titles are old and indie titles. Newer AAA titles do not come with Play Anywhere support.

Here is a list of all the Xbox Play Anywhere titles.

Also Read: Can Xbox One Play With Xbox Series X?

2. GeForce Now

Another way to play PC games on Xbox Series X is through the popular streaming service GeForce Now.

This service was NOT supported upon the Xbox Series X|S release, however, it was released after subsequent updates.

GeForce Now is a CLOUD GAMING service that allows you access 1500+ games that you can literally stream without having to have a physical powerful gaming hardware.

All you need is to subscribe to the service. The subscription allows you to access your games on both PC and on Xbox Series X|S.

Of course, this is probably not the answer to the question “can you play PC games on Xbox Series X?” that you were expecting in the traditional sense, but it is certainly a viable way to integrate the gaming experience over both platforms.

What About Google Stadia?

Google Stadia was Google’s equivalent to GeForce Now. It was essentially Google’s cloud gaming service and upon release, Xbox Series X|S had active support for this service too.

However, it was discontinued in early 2023.

No Native Support for PC Games on Xbox Series X

Again if you think that all PC games NATIVELY support Xbox Series X | S, then you cannot be more wrong.

While both belong to the same parent company, Microsoft, they use completely different infrastructures for game developers.

Hence, games still haven’t made the leap to be natively supported over all platforms right out of the box.

This is particularly true for disc-based games.

Also Read: Xbox Series X PC Equivalent

Final Words

So in short, the answer to the question “Can you play PC games on Xbox Series X?” is that it depends.

As far as native or out-of-the-box support for PC games on Xbox Series X goes, the answer is no.

On the other hand, special titles with the Xbox Play Anywhere label or titles found on Cloud Gaming services like GeForce Now can be played on both Xbox and PC.