xemu

xemu

Developer(s)	Matt Borgerson and contributors
Latest version	0.8.136 [+]
Active	Yes
Platform(s)	Windows Linux macOS
Architecture(s)	x86, ARM
Emulates	Xbox
Compatibility	Compatibility list
Website	xemu.app
Support ($)	Patreon
Programmed in	C, C++
License	GPLv2 and others
Source code	GitHub
Issue tracker	GitHub
BIOS/Keys	Required

xemu is a work-in-progress free and open-source low-level Xbox emulator by Matt Borgerson continuing much of the work done on XQEMU. Focuses on stability, performance, and ease of use.

Download

Latest builds

Overview

Xemu GUI and screens

xemu is an active fork of the XQEMU project, which is based on the very popular and highly actively maintained QEMU full system emulator project. xemu is a low-level, full-system emulator which emulates the actual hardware of the Xbox. It is the best Xbox emulator around, and can play 5x more playable titles than Cxbx-Reloaded with better performance than XQEMU.

Compatibility

The announcements thread in the official Discord channel of this xemu emulator (see external links below) regularly posts updates on progress of user tests and compatibility levels.

Setting up

In order to actually run xemu, you must have a copy of the stuff that a real Xbox needs when it turns on, check out the getting started section on the official wiki for instructions. The real MCPX and flash ROM are required, but one can still boot and play games using the dummy dashboard HDD image.

Additionally, the emulator will automatically generate an EEPROM to be used alongside the rest of the BIOS and system files. This is useable, but will return a "Please insert a valid Xbox disc" error when trying to launch a non-USA title. This is because xemu generates an American EEPROM file. This can be easily fixed by modifying the file with a tool like XboxEepromEditor. Other settings, such as console language, DVD zone or video resolution, are also available.

System files

See emulator files for download links.

Included

EEPROM

The eeprom.bin file is included with xemu, the original Xbox emulator, allowing users to emulate the EEPROM settings necessary for proper console operation.

Required

BIOS

"Your MCPX and BIOS dump should be for a 1.0 Xbox. It's suggested that your MCPX dump be 1.0 and that a compatible BIOS image be used (users have reported success with "COMPLEX 4627")." - https://xemu.app/docs/faq/#q-what-bios-do-i-need-to-use

Boot rom

MCPX 1.0. See emulator files for download links.

HDD

The Xemu project Hard Disk Image section recommends using their pre-formatted Xbox HDD image (distributed under the MIT license), as the original (non-blank) Xbox HDD image is not required.

ISO game files must be converted to XISO

Main article: Disc Drive emulation

Unlike all other Xbox emulators (with the exception of XQEMU), xemu will only load games as disk images in the ISO format. Redump ISOs currently must be adjusted slightly by using the instructions in the Disc Images guide. Games as extracted folders in the "HDD Ready" format can be converted to ISOs using extract-xiso. It is also possible to install a custom dashboard such as UnleashX that supports installing and loading the games from the emulated hard drive.

System requirements

Main article: Computer specifications

External links