Do I need the original game files to run Peter Jackson's King Kong Recompilation?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.

Peter Jackson's King Kong Recompilation

RecompilationActive

The original game's compiled code translated into a native program for a new platform, usually a PC port.

Peter Jackson's King Kong Recompilation screenshot

About

A native Windows port of the Xbox 360 version of Peter Jackson's King Kong, made by translating the original game code to native PC code with the ReXGlue SDK. No game files are included, so you bring your own copy of the Xbox 360 disc as a disc image. This is a first release, tested from the start through the opening on the ship into Skull Island, and a full play-through has not been tested yet.

How it differs from the original

Compared with the Xbox 360 version it renders at up to 7680 x 4320, allows frame rates up to 240 or unlimited (30 fps is the default), adds FXAA, 2x MSAA and up to 16x texture filtering, supports windowed or fullscreen display, controller remapping and keyboard and mouse, and shows Xbox 360 style achievement pop-ups. It also fixes the freeze at the start that the README says happens on the Xenia emulator.

Getting started

The launcher checks the title ID and copies about 6.3 GB of game files into a game folder. It needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and about 7 GB of free space.

Known issues & limitations

Above 30 fps, some character animations are incorrect; 30 fps plays them correctly, and a fix is being worked on.
There can be a short stutter when the game loads the next area.
The first time a new effect appears, it may briefly pop in while being prepared; this only happens once.
The first release has only been tested from the start through the ship opening into Skull Island; a full play-through has not been tested.
The Linux version is in development and is not ready; there is no Linux download yet.
Above 30 fps some character animations are not right yet, and there can be a short stutter when the next area loads.

What you need to run it

Original game files required. The project ships code only; you provide your own copy of the game (Xbox 360 version).

Requires Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a graphics card with DirectX 12, about 7 GB of free space, and your own Xbox 360 disc image.
The supported disc image is an ISO of 7,834,892,288 bytes.

Features

The port runs natively on Windows and fixes the freeze at the start of the game.
Choose render-quality presets or a custom resolution from 1x (720p) to 6x (8K).
Display the game windowed or fullscreen, select a monitor, and keep 16:9 with borders or stretch the image.
Use FXAA, FXAA Extreme, real 2x MSAA, and texture filtering up to 16x.
Play with any controller or with keyboard and mouse; customize camera settings, deadzone, vibration, and button mappings.

How to install

Download the Windows x64 release ZIP and unzip it anywhere.
Run king_kong.exe to open the launcher.
Choose your disc image in the launcher; it checks the disc and copies the game files into a game folder next to the executable.

Controls

Hold Shift while starting to open the launcher.

Summarised from the project's README.

Media

AI assistance

The port was made almost entirely with Claude Code, with the repository owner directing and testing the work.

Additional notes

Disc version: The port is made for the Xbox 360 disc with title ID 555307D3, game version 0.0.0.1, and other versions will not work.

FAQ

What is Peter Jackson's King Kong Recompilation?: Peter Jackson's King Kong Recompilation is an open-source recompilation. The original game's compiled code translated into a native program for a new platform, usually a PC port. The original game ran on Xbox 360.
Do I need the original game files to run Peter Jackson's King Kong Recompilation?: Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.