linkssy2/DarkwatchDarkerEdition

PC port | Version 0.3 | Windows x64 | Community testing

Download Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.3 for Windows

Latest release and download files | Version 0.3 release notes

An unofficial PC port of the original Xbox Darkwatch, powered by XboxXBERecomp by TGP482, with native Direct3D 12 rendering and statically recompiled original gameplay. Bring your own supported Xbox disc image: original game files are not included.

1. Download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.3-Windows-x64.zip using the link above. Choose the Windows package to play; the source archive is for development.
2. Extract the entire folder to a short writable location, such as C:/Games/Darkwatch.
3. Open Darkwatch Darker Edition.exe, choose Import ISO, and select your supported original Xbox .iso or .xiso.
4. Wait for import and shader preparation to finish, then choose Play.

After setup, Play Darkwatch.exe starts directly. Both launch paths prepare missing shaders before gameplay. Normal play has no time limit.

Keep both EXEs, payload/, and GameData/ together. Imported files, saves, bindings, graphics settings and shader cache stay inside the portable folder. The ISO is needed for import or repair, not normal play. For this update, extract into a new folder, copy your existing GameData/ into it, and use Import / Repair with your original ISO or XISO. Reimport is required to enable the bonus content; setup preserves saves, settings and compatible shader cache. Keep the old folder until you have checked your saves.

Requires Windows 10 version 1903 or newer / Windows 11 x64, .NET Framework 4.8, an x86-64-v2 CPU (including SSE4.2 and POPCNT), and a Direct3D 12 GPU supporting feature level 11_0. Runtime dependencies are included locally; setup does not install system components or require administrator access.

• Mouse-friendly menus, editable bindings and direct mouse aiming on foot and horseback.
• Xbox, PS4, Switch Pro and paired Joy-Con controls with matching button prompts.
• Graphics and Controls pages accessible from the main menu and Pause.
• Widescreen framing, resolution and internal scale, FOV, reticle size, MSAA, anisotropic filtering and optional FPS display.
• Optional restored HD menus, fonts and HUD, plus enhanced intro slides. Videos remain original.
• Local shader preparation, portable saves and Quit to Desktop in the main menu.

• Adds independent Weapon FOV and an in-level Cutscene Borders toggle; FMVs stay unchanged.
• Shortens Graphics descriptions and matches Quit to Desktop to the original menu text size.

These changes pass focused offline checks and were confirmed working by the release tester. Extreme weapon FOV can expose the ends of the original model; full-campaign and clean-machine validation remain open.

Version 0.2's bonus content and gameplay fixes are retained:

• Enables the retained War Train chapter and Splitter Grenade campaign placements from the supported Xbox disc. Paired Xbox dynamite replacements are disabled to avoid duplicate pickups; ordinary dynamite is unchanged. Original campaign progression is retained. No PS2 disc or downloaded game files are used.
• Corrects an actor-script timing gate that skipped updates above 100 FPS, linked to the first door staying closed at 144 FPS. Other high-FPS physics or event differences may remain.
• Enables direct mouse aiming during vampire jumps by accepting the original derived jump state in the existing look path.

After picking up Splitter Grenades, use the D-pad Up action (Up Arrow by default) to change grenade type. These changes pass focused offline checks; the first door at 144 FPS, vampire-jump aiming, War Train progression and grenade behavior still need live acceptance testing.

Esc pauses; right-click goes back in menus. Switch buttons use physical positions: B selects, A goes back. PS4 uses Cross to select, Circle to go back. Controllers presented as Xbox by a remapper show Xbox prompts. A single Joy-Con does not provide the complete dual-stick controls.

Setup checks all 23 files of the supported North American Xbox revision. Both full Xbox ISO and trimmed XISO layouts work. Other revisions are rejected. The required default.xbe SHA-256 is 72fc8033e01df4f22c703121cfd160969c642b18e841248224fc97a8f32050d7. Allow at least 4.5 GB per import plus saves/cache. The source disc image is read only.

Version 0.3 is available for community testing. Earlier user testing reached gameplay, the opening boss and horse riding; the fresh-import shader preparation test had no noticeable stutters on the opening route. Full-campaign completion, online play, fresh Windows and physical PS4/Switch testing remain unverified. Unseen shaders, driver pipelines and loading may still cause pauses.

Routine logging, capture hotkeys, debug output and development probes are disabled in the player build. A failure can produce a small capped local error report. The FPS display remains an optional graphics setting.

See build notes, code map, credits and version 0.3 release notes. The source snapshot contains maintained integration, SDK patches, launcher/import code and selected tests. It excludes generated title code, disassembly, original disc files, private research, captures, saves and build output. Standalone setup still needs locally provisioned build dependencies; see the build notes.

Approved restored artwork and launcher branding are included as enhancements; they are not an original disc asset pack. The HD texture pack is prepared locally from the player's verified import. Original content and marks belong to their owners; see artwork provenance and notices.