Xemu (emulator)
| Xemu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Matt Borgerson |
| Stable release | v0.8.136
/ June 8, 2026 |
| Written in | C, C++, Python, Assembly |
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Platform | x86-64 |
| Type | Video game console emulator |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later[1] |
| Website | xemu |
| Repository | GitHub |
Xemu is a free and open-source software emulator designed to emulate the hardware of the original Microsoft Xbox, which was launched in 2001, allowing games and homebrew applications to run on modern Windows, macOS, and Linux computers. An Android release has been announced.[2][3]
The emulator relies on a real Xbox BIOS and other system files (which must be obtained by the user, typically by dumping from their own original Xbox), rather than distributing them with the software.[4] It was written in C, Python, Assembly, and C++.
Xemu offers faster load times, save-state support (AKA snapshot), higher resolution, improved performance, and stability compared to the original console.[5] Despite this, users may still experience varying levels of compatibility and performance issues depending on their hardware and the specific game.[6]
History
The heritage of Xemu traces back to XQEMU, which is a low-level written emulator of the original Xbox (and the related Sega Chihiro arcade hardware), which itself was built on top of the generic machine emulator framework QEMU.[7] The project was started in 2012, with significant contributions from developer named espes. Over time, however, the maintainers recognized that while XQEMU was accurate and low-level, it was not particularly user-friendly or performant for end-users, especially those who simply wanted to play games rather than contribute to development.
In early 2020, developer Matt Borgerson (also known as mborgerson in username) has initiated a fork of XQEMU to create Xemu. The goal of the fork was to preserve compatibility with original Xbox hardware while making tradeoffs in favor of usability and performance. Point onward, Xemu became main active project for original Xbox emulation, receiving contributions from a community of open-source developers.[8] Over the years, Xemu has multiple releases improving its features, stability, and compatibility. A notable milestone was version 0.5, which was released on January 4, 2021.[9][10][11] It brought significant improvements in audio emulation, graphics rendering, BIOS compatibility, and general usability.[12][13] Since then the project still continues, with subsequent releases, including recent version, adding further refinements, bug fixes, and ongoing maintenance to support a growing range of original Xbox software under more modern operating systems. It also has a cross-platform feature.[14]
As of 2026, Xemu supports 80% of games considered being playable according to the website.[15]
References
- ↑ "xemu-project/xemu". June 6, 2026 – via GitHub.
- ↑ Vargas, Paulo (March 9, 2026). "An original Xbox emulator just hit Android and it's already messy".
- ↑ Extension, Time (March 10, 2026). ""Grifters Will Grift" - New Android Xbox Emulator Comes Under Fire From Xemu Developer". Time Extension.
- ↑ Borgerson, Matt. "xemu: Original Xbox Emulator - About". xemu.app. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "xemu: Original Xbox Emulator". xemu.app. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Halo: Combat Evolved Compatibility | xemu: Original Xbox Emulator". xemu.app. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "XQEMU". xqemu.com. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Xemu (2020/06/29) | Xbox Emulation News". xbox-emulation.dcemu.co.uk. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "The original Xbox emulator Xemu updated, graphic/audio improvements". TweakTown. January 4, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ Tamburro, Paul (January 4, 2021). "Original Xbox emulation is finally impressive with Xemu version 0.5". GameRevolution. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ Plunkett, Luke (January 4, 2021). "Xbox Emulation Is Coming Along Nicely".
- ↑ B, Urian (January 5, 2021). "Original Xbox Emulator Xemu v0.5 Release Comes with Improved Graphics, Audio, and More". Tech Times. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Xemu 0.5 Xbox Emulator for PC: New update runs full-speed original Xbox games on your computer". stealthoptional.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ Albert, Jose. "Xemu: An original, free, cross-platform Xbox Emulator". Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "xemu: Original Xbox Emulator". xemu.app.