Earlier in the year Microsoft stated that every retail Xbox One would also double as a potential development kit, and now one user of the next-gen console has posted a picture to Reddit of the machine’s Developer Settings. A video explaining how to access the very same hidden sub-menus has also appeared online.
Whilst they’re obviously there for everyone, a statement from Microsoft suggests you’d be best to leave these options alone at present, with the company saying “Changing the settings in this menu is only intended for developers for Xbox One, and this alone does not turn the console into a development kit. We strongly advise consumers against changing these settings as it could result in their Xbox One becoming unusable.”
A confirmed Xbox One developer also chipped in over at Reddit advising against tinkering, posting “Please don’t mess with anything here for the time being, especially the sandbox ID. You risk putting your box into a boot loop.”
“I have no idea how far along the ID@Xbox program is. There are many concerns such as privacy, security, stability etc.., that need to be sorted out before we can allow anyone and everyone to simply sideload an app onto their box.”
So, there you have it; Your Xbox One is a development kit, but at the moment the only possible development you’re going to see from messing about in these menus is that of an overly expensive paperweight.
Broonba
A possible backdoor for ‘pirates’ to take advantage of. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
cam the man
Just what I was thinking.
It would have been better for anti-piracy if they were initially locked then MS could unlock when necessary.
Starman
Sounds like the first step to piracy has been revealed.
Scythegpd
A publicised and promoted feature due at an unspecified future point for the XBox One(DelayAfterAnother)? Would never have guessed!
TSBonyman
Unfortunately, it sounds like the sort of core system access that hackers would salivate over.
Joe
They are their own worst enemy… Lucky it’s only Microsoft…