How to play original Xbox games on your PC

Xemu is a free and open-source cross-platform Xbox emulator, allowing the running and playing of Xbox games on different operating systems. Here’s what you need to know to get started:

1. Download and Install Xemu
   • Download: Navigate to the official Xemu site and download the version that corresponds to your operating system, such as Windows, macOS, or Linux.
   • Install: Unzip the downloaded files into any directory of your preference.
2. Obtain BIOS and MCPX ROM
   • Xemu needs a genuine Xbox BIOS and an MCPX ROM in order to run. Due to legal reasons, these are not provided by Xemu. You can find them here.
   • If you already own an Xbox: You can extract these from your original Xbox console using “Cxbx-Reloaded” and similar tools.
   • BIOS and MCPX Files:
     • BIOS: Should be named complex_4627.bin or similar.
     • MCPX: Is typically named mcpx.bin.
     • Put these files in a folder where you can conveniently locate them.
3. Run Xemu for the First Time
   • Open Xemu: The first time you open it, it will ask you to provide the location of the BIOS and MCPX ROM.
   • Choose Files: Browse to your BIOS and MCPX files you downloaded and choose them.
   • Attach HDD: Xemu will prompt for a hard disk image. Create a new one via Xemu or use an existing one if you have it.
4. Add Games
   • Legally Rip Games: Use tools such as “DVD2XBOX” to extract ISOs of your original Xbox game discs.
   • Load Games: Use the following in Xemu to load your game: Click on Machine and Load Disk. click on Select your game ISO file.
5. Controller Configuration
   • Setup: Xemu comes with support for various controllers, including the Xbox, PlayStation, and generic USB controllers.
   • Controller Mapping: Click on Input > Controller 1, and set your controller mappings.
6. Configure (Optional)
   • Graphics Configuration: Xemu provides various graphics configurations for resolution, aspect ratio, and filtering options.
   • Performance Tweak: Change settings of the CPU and GPU to a better performance characteristic of your device.
7. Play
   • Now that everything is configured, you can play a game. Load your game by going to Machine > Load Disc. and enjoy.
8. Save and Load States
   • Save/Load States: Xemu supports save states, allowing you to save your game at any point and reload it later.
9. Troubleshooting
   • Performance Issues: If you experience lag, try lowering the resolution or disabling certain graphics enhancements.
   • Compatibility: Not all games run perfectly. Check the compatibility list on Xemu’s website for known issues.
10. Updating Xemu
    • Visit the Xemu site from time to time to check if there are updates that provide better compatibility and features.

Additional Resources

• Xemu Documentation: Visit the Xemu GitHub for fuller documentation and troubleshooting.
• Community Forums: Join the Xemu community forums or Discord to share experience, get help from other users.

The only issue I ran into is when you get the rom online, you will get a dumped file meaning it probably need to be rebuilt into a new image. Once you do this it will more then likely play.

Feel free to hit me up if you’re running into problems or have any questions specifically regarding the usage of Xemu.