Xbox Emulator

Xbox Emulator

Download xemu - the free, open-source original Xbox emulator that plays your Original Xbox games on Windows, macOS and Linux. Accurate, low-level emulation with controller support, HD resolution scaling, snapshots and System Link.

Download xemu 0.8.136See features

Free & open source · Windows · macOS · Linux · Original Xbox

Play the Original Xbox on your computer

xemu is an original Xbox emulator for people who want their games to feel correct - not approximated. It recreates the console at the hardware level using QEMU, so the same games, saves and quirks you remember run on a modern PC, Mac or Linux machine.

It is a great pick for revisiting your Original Xbox library and for local multiplayer with up to four controllers, and it also serves preservation, homebrew and development - all in one free, open-source download. Setup takes a few extra files you dump from your own console, and this site walks you through it.

Everything you need to play Original Xbox games

True original Xbox hardware emulation

xemu is a low-level emulator built on QEMU. Instead of guessing what a game expects, it recreates the Original Xbox at the hardware level, so your games behave the way they did on the real console.

Low-level (LLE)QEMU-basedAccurate

Windows, macOS and Linux

One Xbox emulator for every desktop. Native builds run on Windows PCs, on Mac (universal Apple Silicon and Intel) and on Linux, so you can play your Original Xbox library wherever you work.

WindowsmacOSLinux

Up to four controllers

xemu supports virtually all modern controllers and lets you connect up to four pads at once - exactly what the Original Xbox was built for. Perfect for local multiplayer classics and party games.

4 controllersGamepad readyKeyboard input

Sharper than the original

Scale the internal resolution from the console-native 480p all the way up to 1080p with a single click. Games look crisp on a modern display while keeping the original look and feel.

480p to 1080pWidescreenFullscreen

Snapshots (save states)

Save the entire machine state and load it back at any time. Snapshots let you pause a long game, retry a tough section or pick up exactly where you left off - even in titles without in-game saves.

Save stateInstant loadAnytime

System Link networking

Connect to other instances of xemu and to real Xbox consoles, locally or over the internet. Revisit System Link multiplayer the way the Original Xbox intended, with modern networking under the hood.

System LinkLAN & onlineReal Xbox link

Persistent virtual hard drive

xemu emulates the Xbox hard drive and EEPROM, so in-game saves, settings and downloadable content persist between sessions - just like the console sitting under your TV.

Virtual HDDEEPROMReal saves

Free, open source and evolving

xemu is completely free and open source under the GNU General Public License v2. Development is active and public, with debugging and tracing tools for advanced users, homebrew and preservation work.

GPLv2No costActively developed

What you need to play

xemu 0.8.136 is a full-system emulator, so it needs a few files from a real Original Xbox before your games will boot. Here is everything required - all of it dumped from hardware you own.

A supported desktop

A 64-bit Windows, macOS or Linux computer with a GPU that supports modern OpenGL or Vulkan. xemu runs on typical gaming and productivity machines - a high-end rig is not required.

Boot ROM and BIOS files

The MCPX boot ROM and a compatible Xbox BIOS (flash ROM) image. A retail BIOS will not boot games because of unimplemented DRM, so a debug or modified retail BIOS is used. xemu does not include these files.

A hard disk image

A formatted Xbox hard drive image for saves, settings and the dashboard. You can create your own or use the project’s pre-built image, then point xemu at it in Settings.

Download xemu 0.8.136

Windows

For 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. Unzip the archive anywhere and run xemu.exe - no installer needed. The x64 build suits most PCs; an ARM64 build is available for Windows on ARM.

Download for Windows

macOS

A universal build for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Unzip it and move xemu to your Applications folder, then allow it to open in System Settings the first time.

Download for macOS

Linux

A portable AppImage that runs on most Linux distributions with no installation. Choose the build that matches your processor architecture, mark it executable and launch.

Download AppImage (x64)

Downloads are hosted on GitHub and are the genuine release files - nothing here is repackaged. xemu does not include a BIOS, boot ROM or games; see what you need to play above.

How to set up xemu

1

Download xemu

Grab the build for your device above - Windows, macOS or Linux. There is nothing to install: unzip and run.

2

Add the required files

Dump the MCPX boot ROM, a compatible BIOS and a hard disk image from your own Original Xbox. These files are not included and must come from hardware you own.

3

Point xemu at them

Open Settings and select your MCPX, BIOS and hard disk image. xemu creates an EEPROM automatically if you do not supply one.

4

Load a game

Dump your own Xbox game disc to an ISO/XISO image and open it from the DVD drive menu, or launch straight into the dashboard.

5

Configure and play

Connect a controller (up to four), scale the resolution up to 1080p and use snapshots to save your progress anytime.

The files xemu needs

MCPX boot ROMThe small secret boot ROM from the console
BIOS (flash ROM)A debug or modified retail BIOS image
Hard disk imageFormatted Xbox HDD for saves and dashboard
EEPROMCreated automatically if you don’t supply one

These files are not provided here. Dump them only from your own Original Xbox.

Tips for smooth play

Keep xemu and your Xbox files in a normal, writable folder such as Documents rather than inside Program Files, so the emulator can write to the virtual hard drive without permission issues.

Raise the internal resolution to 1080p for a sharper picture, connect an Xbox-style controller for the most authentic feel, and use snapshots before tricky sections so you can jump straight back in.

Why xemu is the best Original Xbox emulator

  • Accurate low-level emulation of real Original Xbox hardware
  • Native Windows, macOS and Linux builds from one project
  • Support for virtually all controllers, up to four at once
  • Internal resolution scaling from 480p up to 1080p
  • Snapshots to save and restore the full machine state
  • System Link networking with other xemu instances and real consoles
  • Persistent virtual hard drive and EEPROM for real saves
  • Free and open source under the GNU General Public License v2
  • Active, public development with tools for advanced users

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Frequently asked questions

What is xemu?

xemu is a free, open-source application that emulates the original Microsoft Xbox game console, letting you play your Original Xbox games on Windows, macOS and Linux. It emulates the console at a low level, built on QEMU, so games run close to how they behaved on real hardware.

Is there an Xbox emulator for PC?

Yes. xemu is an Original Xbox emulator for PC. The Windows build runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11, and there are native builds for macOS and Linux too. It is the most practical way to play Original Xbox games on a desktop or laptop.

Is xemu free?

Yes. xemu is completely free and open source under the GNU General Public License v2. There are no subscriptions, paid tiers or locked features, and the full source code is publicly available for inspection and contribution.

Which systems does xemu run on?

xemu runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The Windows and Linux builds ship for both x64 and ARM64 processors, and the macOS build is universal, covering both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Is there an Xbox emulator for Android?

No. xemu is a desktop emulator for Windows, macOS and Linux, and there is currently no working, accurate Original Xbox emulator for Android or iOS. Emulating Xbox hardware is demanding, so a computer is the reliable way to play today. Be cautious of mobile apps that claim to be an "Xbox emulator" - they are often not genuine.

What is the best Xbox emulator?

For the Original Xbox, xemu is widely considered the best option. It is actively maintained, open source, cross-platform and focused on accurate, low-level emulation. If you are looking to emulate the Xbox 360 instead, that is a different console and needs a separate emulator.

Do I need BIOS or boot ROM files?

Yes. xemu needs an MCPX boot ROM, a compatible Xbox BIOS (flash ROM) image and a hard disk image to run. Because of unimplemented DRM, an unmodified retail BIOS cannot boot games, so a debug or modified retail BIOS is used. xemu does not include or provide any of these files.

Where do I get the required files and games?

The only legal way to obtain the boot ROM, BIOS, hard disk image and game backups is to dump them from your own, physical Original Xbox and your own game discs. This site and the xemu project do not host, link to or provide those files, and do not endorse piracy.

Is emulating the Original Xbox legal?

Running an emulator is legal in most places. The files it uses are a different matter: you are responsible for using xemu only with a BIOS, boot ROM and games that you have legally dumped from hardware you own, and for following the laws where you live.

Does xemu support controllers?

Yes. xemu supports virtually all modern controllers and lets you connect up to four at once, matching the Original Xbox’s four controller ports. Keyboard input is also available, and bindings can be adjusted in the settings.

Can I improve the graphics?

Yes. xemu can scale the internal rendering resolution from the console-native 480p up to 1080p with a single click, and offers fullscreen and aspect-ratio options, so classic games look sharp on a modern monitor while keeping their original style.

Does xemu support save states and online play?

xemu supports snapshots, which save and restore the entire machine state at any time, alongside the persistent virtual hard drive that keeps normal in-game saves. It also includes networking so you can connect to other xemu instances and real consoles for System Link multiplayer, locally or over the internet.

Who makes xemu, and is it safe?

xemu is developed publicly by Matt Borgerson and a community of contributors, and is based on the QEMU and XQEMU projects. Because it is open source, the code can be reviewed by anyone. Always download it from the official releases linked here to avoid unofficial, modified copies.

Legal notice

xemu is not affiliated with Microsoft. Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. This site links to genuine, unmodified release files and does not provide a BIOS, boot ROM, hard disk image or game files. You are responsible for using xemu only with files you have legally dumped from an Original Xbox you own.

Bring your Original Xbox library back

Download xemu and play your Original Xbox games on Windows, Mac or Linux with an accurate, free and actively developed emulator - controllers, HD scaling and snapshots included.

Download xemu 0.8.136Read the FAQ