I still have an original Xbox hanging out in my living room, so it’s needless to say I was pretty excited to try out the EON XBHD. Not only does it hook up the retro console to a modern TV using a single HDMI cable, but it also promises to transport you back to the glory days of Halo LAN sessions with your friends, a bunch of Xboxes, and a crate of cheap beer. Sadly, the device won’t turn your old hardware into a time machine, so literally heading back to 2002 is off the cards. However, it does make the process of using Microsoft’s old console a lot easier in 2024, albeit with a few visual caveats and hefty price tag thrown in.
At $189.99 / £189.98, the EON XBHD is pretty expensive, and it won’t work across all the best retro consoles out there. Instead, it will solely add HDMI output to your OG Xbox alongside three Ethernet ports for LAN shenanigans. I would argue that the fact it’s a bespoke device for a specific platform means it’ll cater even more to the needs of enthusiasts but unfortunately that’s not entirely the case, and I can’t help but feel this adapter would fare better with casual players if it came with an approachable price tag attached.
