An XEX file is a proprietary executable format developed by Microsoft for the Xbox 360's PowerPC architecture . It contains the core instructions and machine code required for the console to launch a game.

The real magic of XEX games is the ability to modify the executable itself. The modding community has created tools like and XEX Menu v1.2 that allow users to:

Before we discuss "XEX games," we must understand the file itself. stands for Xbox Executable . It is the direct equivalent of a .exe file on a Windows PC or an .app on macOS. When you launch a game on a standard, unmodified Xbox 360 console, the dashboard locates the default.xex file on the game disc or hard drive and executes it.