GoldenEye for the Xbox 360 leaks online and is playable if you can find it

Xbox 360 Vertical
Xbox 360 Vertical (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • A version of GoldenEye 007 for the Xbox 360 has leaked online.
  • The ROM is playable on PC through the use of an emulator.
  • GoldenEye 007 for the Xbox 360 was originally planned for 2008 but never came out.

A version of GoldenEye 007 for the Xbox 360 recently leaked online. If you know where to find the leak, it's playable on PC through the use of an emulator (via Video Game Chronicle). The game was originally set to come out in 2008 but was canceled before it came out.

The leaked ROM is a near-final version of the game that includes both the single-player campaign and its multiplayer mode. You can switch between HD graphics and the original blocky style of the N64 version if you're feeling nostalgic.

The game was reportedly canceled due to rights issues, according to 1Up (via The Verge). The game reportedly ran into several rights issues, including conflicts with Nintendo which published the original game, Microsoft which owned Rare which developed the original game, and Eon Productions which held the license to Bond.

Footage of the leak being played has appeared in the past, but the recent leak of the ROM allows anyone who gets their hands on it to be able to play it. As with other leaks, we won't link to the ROM here, but you can find it if you know where to look.

Digital Foundry has a video of GoldenEye 007 in action that shows over two hours of the game.

The licensing issues that prevented the 2008 version of the game still seem to haunt the title. Microsoft's Phil Spencer talked about how the rights to the game prevent any new versions from coming out. Spencer stated on Twitter, "GoldenEye rights are so challenging, looked at this many times. Lot's of different parties to work with, we've always given up."

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.