UnleashedRecomp

About

Sonic Unleashed is a 2008 platform game by Sonic Team and Sega in which Sonic must restore a world shattered by Doctor Eggman while contending with a new werewolf-like 'Werehog' transformation; it alternates fast, traditional daytime platforming stages with slower nighttime combat stages as the Werehog. UnleashedRecomp is an unofficial PC port of the Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed, built via static recompilation — translating the game's original PowerPC code and Xenos shaders into C++ and HLSL using the project's own XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp tools. It runs natively on Windows and Linux, including the Steam Deck, via Direct3D 12 or Vulkan, and ships no game assets: it requires files dumped from the player's own legally owned Xbox 360 copy.

How it differs from the original

The port adds features absent from the Xbox 360 original: a rewritten renderer with higher resolutions, ultrawide support and uncapped/high frame rates, enhanced motion blur and depth of field, a new options menu and achievement system, asynchronous shader compilation to avoid load-in stutter, and support for both Xbox- and PlayStation-style controller icon sets.

Getting started

Getting it running means dumping your own legally purchased Xbox 360 copy of Sonic Unleashed (disc or digital, with its title update, ideally with the DLC Adventure Packs) via a hard-drive transfer cable or USB adapter, then running the included installer, which walks you through providing those files. Mods are added through Hedge Mod Manager rather than by editing game files directly.

Known issues & limitations

• gameplay: High frame rate glitches occur at frame rates above 60 FPS; game is considered beatable but some optional content may require 60 FPS lock.
• cutscene: Ultrawide aspect ratio can cause visual oddities in cutscenes when unlocked.
• Achievements cannot be used with platforms such as Steam or RetroAchievements.
• Unlocking ultrawide aspect ratios during cutscenes may cause visual oddities.
• Music Attenuation is not currently available on Linux.
• Code modding is currently unavailable and is planned for a future update.
• DualShock 4 and DualSense LED and touchpad support may be limited with third-party input translation layers and on Linux.
• Frame rates above 60 FPS can trigger physics or animation glitches inherited from the original engine, and unlocking the ultrawide aspect ratio during cutscenes can cause visual oddities since those scenes weren't designed for wider framing.

What you need to run it

Features

• The port supports high resolutions, ultrawide displays, high frame rates, improved performance, and modding.
• The in-game options menu offers quality-of-life and graphics options and supports full controller navigation.
• Achievements include notifications and an in-game menu.
• The new menus support English, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, and Italian.
• Graphics options include higher MSAA levels, enhanced depth of field and motion blur, alpha-to-coverage anti-aliasing, and bicubic texture filtering.
• The frame-rate cap is 60 FPS by default, with higher targets and an unlocked frame rate available in the options.
• Ultrawide aspect ratios are supported, with options for aligning the UI to the screen edges or the original 16:9 safe area.
• The D-pad can be used across various parts of the game, and the full game can be completed with it instead of the analog stick.
• You can choose Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 controller icons, or let the game detect which to use.
• Native Linux builds work on Steam Deck, and the Flatpak version can be installed directly.

How to install

1. Acquire the game files from your Xbox 360 by following the hard-drive or USB dumping guide.
2. Download the latest release and extract it where you want the game installed.
3. Use Add Files for Xbox 360-dumped containers or images; use Add Folder only for a directory of the requested content's extracted raw files.

Controls

• Start is Return; Back (Select) is Backspace.
• Left Trigger is 1, Right Trigger is 3, Left Bumper is Q, and Right Bumper is E.
• The left stick uses the arrow keys; the D-pad and right stick are unbound by default.
• Keyboard bindings can be changed by editing config.toml in the configuration directory.

Additional notes

Compatibility

Only the US/EU Xbox 360 release is supported; the PlayStation 3 version's files and the Japanese Xbox 360 release cannot be used.

FAQ

What is UnleashedRecomp?

UnleashedRecomp is an open-source recompilation of Sonic Unleashed. 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 UnleashedRecomp?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy. Requires files from a legally acquired copy of Sonic Unleashed for Xbox 360 (US or EU versions with Title Update).

Why does the installer say my files are invalid?

Check that you acquired all required files correctly, are not adding compressed files, use Add Folder only for extracted content files, use files from the same region, and provide original unmodified files.

How can I install mods?

Use Hedge Mod Manager; do not install mods by modifying the game data.

Can I install the game with a PlayStation 3 copy?

No. The project cannot use files from the PlayStation 3 version.

Can I install the game with a Japanese copy?

No. The Japanese version is incompatible with the international release.

Mentioned in

• What Is a Game Decompilation? Decompilation vs. Recompilation vs. Emulation, Explained