# The Darkness Recomp: an Xbox 360 static recompilation with a native D3D11 renderer

> Builds a native Windows x64 port of The Darkness by translating its Xbox 360 executable to C++ ahead of time with a patched XenonRecomp. A D3D11 renderer draws from the engine’s original geometry, shader sources and device state instead of interpreting console GPU packets. Gameplay coverage and Linux results are project-reported, and the author discloses OpenAI Codex assistance.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-18
- Added to the catalog: 2026-10-18
- Original resource: <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/the-darkness-recomp-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/the-darkness-recomp-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/the-darkness-recomp-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Requires the user’s extracted Xbox 360 dump: the original encrypted default.xex plus Content, System and the other dump folders. An ISO alone is not accepted, and the repository includes no game code, assets or generated translation output. The runtime decodes default.xex in memory and accepts only the approved original disc revision and Russian localization by SHA-256; title updates and other Xbox games need their own verified translation.
- **Prerequisites:** Playing the release needs 64-bit Windows 10/11 with a Direct3D 11 device. Source builds need Git, Visual Studio 2022 with ClangCL, CMake 3.24+, Python 3.11+, MSYS2 MinGW64 tools, standalone LLVM and about 15 GB. The build fetches hedge-dev/XenonRecomp at c5bfd90d and applies the bundled Darkness and correction patches before generating the translation.
- **Limits:** The README reports full gameplay with mouse/controller input, XMA audio, saves, local achievements and added video and remapping menus; Xbox Live synchronization is unavailable. Under Proton in WSL2, the opening level rendered with audio, but camera movement and tutorial completion were not confirmed; Steam Deck remains unverified and there is no native Linux build.
- **Testing evidence:** The build runs a CTest suite of native and contract tests, and the updater re-tests builds and checks packaged files with SHA-256. These are project checks of the port.
- **License:** GPLv3 per COPYING, matching UnleashedRecomp/XenonRecomp; the generator patches are GPLv3, SMAA and the CC0 Xelu prompt icons keep their own terms, and the game retains separate rights. This is static recompilation, not recovered authored source. The README states that development includes OpenAI Codex assistance.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/START_HERE.txt>
3. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/config/darkness.toml>
4. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/config/game_revisions.toml>
5. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/tools/patches/README.md>
6. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/tools/setup_generator.py>
7. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/tools/build.ps1>
8. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/RENDERING.md>
9. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/STEAM_DECK.md>
10. <https://github.com/portingpete/The-Darkness-Recomp/blob/98f0bcd49dfee90dfee968a3b75fd40e892c91e7/COPYING>

## More in Games

- [The Simpsons Wrestling Recompiled: a psxrecomp PlayStation static recompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/simpsons-wrestling-recompiled-case/index.md) · Case study
- [The Two Towers Recompiled: an original Xbox static-recompilation port](https://awesomerea.org/resources/two-towers-recompiled-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Unleashed Recompiled: translating Xbox 360 game code and shaders](https://awesomerea.org/resources/unleashed-recompiled-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Weeping of the Empire: statically recompiling Tears of the Kingdom for Windows](https://awesomerea.org/resources/weeping-of-the-empire-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Wind Waker HD Recomp: a native port by static recompilation of the Wii U game](https://awesomerea.org/resources/wind-waker-hd-recomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Zelda 64: Recompiled — a native Majora’s Mask port without a full source decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/zelda64recomp-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.