> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/emoose/xenia/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Game Compatibility

> Understanding Xbox 360 game compatibility in Xenia

Xenia is an experimental Xbox 360 emulator capable of running many commercial and homebrew games. Compatibility varies widely depending on the game and the specific features it uses.

## Compatibility Status

### Official Compatibility List

The Xenia Canary project maintains an active compatibility database where users can report their experiences with different games:

<Card title="Game Compatibility List" icon="gamepad" href="https://github.com/xenia-canary/game-compatibility/issues">
  View the official game compatibility tracker with user reports, screenshots, and known issues for hundreds of titles.
</Card>

### Contributing to Compatibility Data

If you've tested a game, please contribute your findings! Follow the [existing conventions](https://github.com/xenia-canary/game-compatibility/blob/canary/README.md) when submitting:

* Include the game title and Title ID
* Report your test results (playable, boots, crashes, etc.)
* Add screenshots if possible
* Note any specific issues or workarounds
* List your configuration if non-default settings were needed

## Compatibility Categories

Games generally fall into these categories:

### Playable

Games that can be completed from start to finish with minor or no issues. May have:

* Minor graphical glitches
* Occasional frame drops
* Non-critical bugs that don't prevent completion

### Ingame

Games that boot and are playable to some extent but have significant issues:

* Major graphical problems
* Performance issues
* Crashes during gameplay
* Missing features that impact gameplay

### Menus

Games that boot to menus but don't proceed further:

* Main menu displays correctly
* Game crashes when starting gameplay
* Severe rendering issues in-game

### Intro/Logos

Games that display intro videos or logos but crash before reaching menus.

### Nothing

Games that don't boot at all or immediately crash.

## Factors Affecting Compatibility

### Hardware Requirements

Your PC hardware significantly impacts compatibility:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="CPU Requirements">
    **Minimum:** Modern quad-core CPU (Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 5 or better)

    **Recommended:** High-performance CPU with strong single-thread performance

    Xenia relies heavily on CPU performance for:

    * PowerPC instruction translation
    * JIT compilation
    * Xbox 360 CPU emulation

    Games with intensive CPU usage may require powerful processors to run at full speed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="GPU Requirements">
    **Minimum:** DirectX 12 or Vulkan capable GPU

    **Recommended:** Modern dedicated GPU (NVIDIA GTX 1060 / AMD RX 580 or better)

    GPU factors:

    * Shader compilation performance
    * Texture and render target memory
    * Support for required graphics API features
    * Driver quality and compatibility
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Memory Requirements">
    **Minimum:** 8 GB RAM

    **Recommended:** 16 GB RAM or more

    The Xbox 360 had 512 MB of shared memory, but emulation overhead can require significantly more system RAM.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Emulation Accuracy

Several emulation aspects affect compatibility:

**CPU Emulation:**

* PowerPC instruction translation accuracy
* Timing and synchronization
* VMX128 vector extensions
* Cache behavior simulation

**GPU Emulation:**

* Xenos shader translation
* EDRAM simulation
* Render target formats
* Texture sampling and filtering
* Resolve operations

**Kernel Emulation:**

* Xbox 360 system calls
* Threading and synchronization
* File system access
* Achievement and profile handling

**APU Emulation:**

* Audio processing
* XMA audio decoding
* 3D audio effects

### Game-Specific Features

Some Xbox 360 features are difficult to emulate:

<Card title="Challenging Features" icon="exclamation-triangle">
  * Kinect sensor input
  * Network/Xbox Live functionality
  * Some copy protection schemes
  * Avatar system integration
  * Specific middleware libraries
  * Custom audio codecs
</Card>

### Configuration Impact

Your Xenia configuration can affect compatibility:

**Critical Settings:**

* `--pvr` value may affect games that check processor version
* `--gpu_allow_invalid_fetch_constants` helps some games but may break others
* `--half_pixel_offset` fixes some games but may blur UI in others

**Per-Game Configs:**

Many games require specific settings to work correctly. Check the compatibility list for recommended configurations for specific titles.

## Improving Compatibility

### Try Different Settings

If a game doesn't work well:

1. **Adjust GPU settings:**
   * Toggle `vsync`
   * Try different `pvr` values
   * Modify `gpu_allow_invalid_fetch_constants`
   * Adjust `half_pixel_offset`

2. **Enable debugging features:**
   * Use `--trace_gpu_stream` to capture rendering issues
   * Enable `--dump_shaders` to analyze shader problems
   * Check logs for error messages

3. **Update Xenia:**
   * Use the latest Xenia Canary build
   * Check if your issue is already fixed in recent commits

### Report Issues

If you encounter problems:

1. Check the [compatibility list](https://github.com/xenia-canary/game-compatibility/issues) first
2. Search existing issues to avoid duplicates
3. Report with detailed information:
   * Exact Xenia version/commit
   * Game title and Title ID
   * Steps to reproduce
   * Log files and screenshots
   * System specifications

### Known Limitations

<Warning>
  Xenia is in active development. Some features are not yet implemented:

  * Online multiplayer is not supported
  * Kinect games do not work
  * Some arcade titles have issues
  * DLC and title updates may have problems
</Warning>

## Compatibility Progress

Xenia compatibility improves continuously thanks to:

* Active development by the core team
* Community contributions and testing
* Better understanding of Xbox 360 hardware
* Improved emulation accuracy
* Bug fixes and optimizations

Check the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/xenia-canary/xenia-canary) for the latest development progress.

## Testing Guidelines

When testing games for compatibility:

### Before Testing

* Use the latest Xenia Canary build
* Start with default configuration
* Ensure game files are complete and not corrupted
* Check if the game is already listed in the compatibility database

### During Testing

* Test beyond the main menu (many games crash after starting)
* Try different game modes if available
* Note specific issues with timestamps or locations
* Take screenshots of problems
* Save log files for analysis

### Reporting Results

* Be specific about what works and what doesn't
* Include version information (Xenia build, game version)
* Note any configuration changes from default
* Attach relevant screenshots and logs
* Update your report if issues are fixed in newer builds

## Resources

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Compatibility Database" icon="database" href="https://github.com/xenia-canary/game-compatibility/issues">
    Search and contribute to the official game compatibility list
  </Card>

  <Card title="Discord Community" icon="discord" href="https://discord.gg/Q9mxZf9">
    Discuss compatibility issues and get help from the community
  </Card>

  <Card title="GitHub Issues" icon="github" href="https://github.com/xenia-canary/xenia-canary/issues">
    Report bugs and emulation issues
  </Card>

  <Card title="Wiki" icon="book" href="https://github.com/xenia-canary/xenia-canary/wiki">
    Additional documentation and guides
  </Card>
</CardGroup>