A new open-source launcher for Linux is now capable of downloading and playing Microsoft Store games, including those available through the PC Game Pass subscription service. Called Xodus Nexus, this app lets you play select games locally on machines with Linux-based operating systems, including SteamOS devices such as the Steam Deck.
Based on the Xodus project, Xodus Nexus lets you browse the Microsoft store and your game library on Linux machines, and install your purchased or Game Pass games. Support for the latter is still experimental, with finicky navigation and loading loops, and the developer indicates that mouse or touch controls may still be required for certain login windows and system dialogues. However, some Reddit users have reported that games do run.
On top of installing and launching games, Xodus Nexus can also access cloud saves in supported titles, allowing you to start a play session on one machine and finish it on another without losing progress. The launcher also simplifies game launching, giving you the ability to add shortcuts to Steam and even run them through Steam’s Gaming Mode.
Officially, Microsoft’s Store remains exclusive to Windows users, blocking game owners and Game Pass members from accessing their titles on SteamOS and other Linux-based distros. Prior to this launcher coming out, players on these devices had only one choice when it came to these games – playing their libraries through cloud streaming, which has plenty of downsides compared to local play.
At the moment, Xodus Nexus includes:
- A library combining games you own, games available through your subscription, and local installations, with search and filters.
- Update notifications for the launcher, plus backend and runtime updates through Settings.
According to its developer, at least 42 games are fully playable, including online, including:
- Gears of War: E-Day
- Deep Rock Galactic
- Minecraft Dungeons II
- No Man’s Sky
- Forza Horizon 6
- Palworld
- Valor Mortis
Regarding problematic games, issues that players have encountered range from systematic crashes after launch to online issues. In other words, you can’t be sure until you try, especially considering that each Linux distro and machine can have its own quirks. It’s potentially a big boon for SteamOS devices, though. Heck, this may even prompt Microsoft to release an official app on Linux.
