Sonic Unleashed on PC: UnleashedRecomp setup guide (2026)
Unleashed Recompiled is the native PC port of Xbox 360 Sonic Unleashed. It isn't an emulator — it's a static recompilation that turns the original PowerPC code and Xenos shaders into C++ and HLSL via XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp (the same family of tools behind other Xbox 360 recomps). You get high resolutions, ultrawide, 60+ FPS, a rebuilt options menu, achievements, and mod support. Checked against the official repo on Oct 13, 2026 (~5.2k stars, GPL-3.0).
Legal: CRT Forge links to official project repos only. We never host or link ROMs, ISOs or game dumps. Bring your own dump from a cartridge or disc you own. This isn't legal advice.
UnleashedRecomp-Windows.zip and UnleashedRecomp-Flatpak.zip. Updates drop on top of an existing install — saves and config stay put. Download only from official Releases.Minimum system requirements
| Need | Spec |
|---|---|
| CPU | AVX: Intel Sandy Bridge (2nd gen) or AMD Bulldozer (FX) or newer |
| GPU | Direct3D 12 (Shader Model 6) or Vulkan 1.2 — e.g. GT 630 / HD 7750 / Intel HD 510+ |
| RAM | 8 GB minimum |
| OS | Windows 10 (1909+) or a modern Linux distro (e.g. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS) |
| Storage | 6 GiB without DLC · 10 GiB with DLC (more if you keep uncompressed dumps) |
Step 1: dump your own Xbox 360 copy
You need:
- An Xbox 360 (no modding required) plus storage (HDD or USB)
- A Hard Drive Transfer Cable / compatible SATA-USB adapter if dumping from the internal HDD
- Sonic Unleashed for Xbox 360 — US or EU only (JP is not supported), with the Title Update installed
- Adventure Pack DLC (optional, highly recommended for the high-quality lighting)
Follow the official dumping docs in the repo: HDD dumping or USB dumping. CRT Forge never hosts or links game files.
Step 2: download Unleashed Recompiled
Grab the Windows or Flatpak zip from github.com/hedge-dev/UnleashedRecomp/releases/latest and extract it where you want the game installed.
Step 3: run the installer
- Launch the executable. The built-in wizard walks you through installing the game with integrity checks.
- Add Files — for Xbox 360 containers/images (often huge extensionless files). The installer detects what's inside.
- Add Folder — only for a directory that already holds the raw content files. It will not scan for compatible content.
- You can add DLC later from the title-screen installer.
Gotchas from the FAQ: don't feed it .zip/.7z/.rar. Discs and Title Updates must be the same region. Only original, unmodified files are accepted. If installs fail with black screens or crashes, reinstalling usually won't help — the process can't produce an invalid install from valid files.
What you get
- High resolution + MSAA beyond the original 2x, better DoF (5×5 / 7×7 / 9×9 taps), enhanced motion blur, Alpha-to-Coverage AA, bicubic GI filtering, cleaner reverse-Z
- 60 FPS by default, with higher / unlocked targets (some high-FPS glitches remain)
- Ultrawide out of the box; cutscenes stay 16:9 unless you unlock them
- Achievements with notifications (local only — not Steam / RetroAchievements)
- Localization for EN/JP/DE/FR/ES/IT; Japanese swaps the title-screen logo
- Mods: Xbox 360 modded files work if they don't replace
default.xexor shaders; code modding is planned
Default keyboard bindings
A controller is strongly recommended until Action Remapping lands. Defaults (based on Devil's Details' Sonic Generations layout):
| Pad | Key |
|---|---|
| A (Cross) | S |
| B (Circle) | D |
| X (Square) | A |
| Y (Triangle) | W |
| Start | Return |
| Back (Select) | Backspace |
| LT / RT | 1 / 3 |
| LB / RB | Q / E |
| Left stick | Arrow keys |
Edit config.toml in the config directory to rebind.
Updating without losing saves
Extract the new release on top of your current install and overwrite. Do not run the update from a different folder. Flatpak users: remove the app in Discover without deleting app data, then reinstall the new Flatpak.
Related Xbox 360 recomps: best Xbox 360 PC recomps (includes MarathonRecomp / Sonic '06), Smash Ultimate PC recomp. New to recomps? Read what a decomp PC port is and how to play them.
Built on XenonRecomp: see how XenonRecomp and ReXGlue work, plus CoD3Recomp and Dimensions Recompiled.
FAQ
What is UnleashedRecomp?
Unleashed Recompiled is an unofficial PC port of the Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed made by static recompilation (not an emulator). It uses XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp to turn the original PowerPC code and Xenos shaders into native C++ and HLSL. Checked against github.com/hedge-dev/UnleashedRecomp on Oct 13, 2026 (~5.2k stars).
Is UnleashedRecomp legal?
The project ships no game assets. You must provide files from your own legally acquired Xbox 360 copy (US or EU; JP is not supported). CRT Forge only links the official repo and never links game dumps. This isn't legal advice.
Where do I download UnleashedRecomp?
Only from the official GitHub Releases page: github.com/hedge-dev/UnleashedRecomp/releases/latest. The latest release we checked is v1.0.3 (published Apr 3, 2025) with UnleashedRecomp-Windows.zip and UnleashedRecomp-Flatpak.zip. The README warns: never download builds from other sites, Discord servers or third-party updaters.
Which Sonic Unleashed version do I need?
Xbox 360 US or EU with the Title Update. JP is not supported. Retail disc or digital from the Xbox Store both work. Adventure Pack DLC is optional but highly recommended — the README says it includes high-quality lighting for the entire game.
Does it support 60 FPS, ultrawide and mods?
Yes. Default frame rate is raised to 60 FPS with higher/unlocked options; ultrawide (21:9+) is supported; Xbox 360 mods that don't replace default.xex or shaders are compatible. Code modding is planned for a future update.
Where are saves and config stored?
Windows: %APPDATA%\UnleashedRecomp\ · Linux: ~/.config/UnleashedRecomp/. Create an empty portable.txt next to the executable to keep everything in the install folder.