Modder upgrades original Xbox for Game Pass

A PC modder successfully converted the original Xbox console into a gaming PC capable of running Game Pass and Steam games with improved graphics.

Despite not being as highly regarded as its successors, the original Xbox made history by being the first console to have a built-in hard drive and by introducing popular game franchises like Halo.

Despite Microsoft’s shift in focus, fans continue to keep the memory of the old console alive. Recently, a modder has successfully converted the original Xbox into a high-tech gaming PC.

Subject-Historian-70 shared images on r/ssffpc (Small Form Factor PC) of their incredible transformation of an Xbox console into a gaming PC. Despite the iconic black form factor remaining seemingly unchanged, a closer look reveals that the controller ports have been ingeniously replaced with USB ports.

The ingenuity displayed does not end there. Subject-Historian-70 also modified the case itself by removing sections of the large X that spans the entire system. Through the use of a Dremel tool, pliers, and a Stanley knife, these sections were replaced with PC mesh to improve airflow and safeguard against dust and debris.

Image of the modded Xbox gaming PC by Reddit user Subject-Historian-70.

The Xbox gaming PC, as described by the modder, performs exceptionally well, with minimal noise output and the ability to run most games on High/Ultra or Medium/High settings.

As mentioned in the comments of the original post, the primary purpose of the modded Xbox ‘sleeper build’ PC is to play games through Xbox Game Pass or Steam. Based on its specifications, this should not be a problem. The PC is equipped with an Nvidia RTX A2000 GPU, which has comparable capabilities to the RTX 3050.

Despite its unconventional appearance, the graphics card actually utilizes the GA106 GPU found in both the RTX 3050 and RTX 3060, providing ray tracing capabilities and access to Nvidia’s DLSS technology. Furthermore, its compact size allows it to be easily installed into a modified Xbox console.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, 2TB SSD, and ASRock AB350 motherboard are also included as parts.

Despite the potential for improved performance, the updated internals of the Xbox PC still retain elements of the original hardware. The modified PC still utilizes the same original Xbox chassis and case fan for cooling.

Modder Subject-Historian-70 went a step further by incorporating an authentic, chunky Xbox power button to power on the build, adding to the nostalgic feel.