NotRexed/SkyboundTotk

SkyboundTOTK is an experimental Windows x64 static recompilation of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, limited to the unmodified 1.0.0 base game. It aims to run that game natively on a PC, not to serve as a general Switch emulator. Expect graphical defects and incomplete compatibility; the startup test only confirmed the renderer initializes and packaged RomFS loads, not full gameplay or correct graphics.

How it works

The game's AArch64 code is lifted ahead of time into C and compiled locally into a native executable. A runtime supplies the services the game expects, and a renderer translates graphics work and shaders to WebGPU (WGSL). On Windows, wgpu-native maps that to an available native backend such as Vulkan or Direct3D 12, so the desktop build does not run in a browser. Some shader translation still happens at runtime, which is why new scenes can stutter while pipelines compile.

What you need to build

This is a build-from-source Windows project. You must supply your own legally obtained, already-extracted, unmodified 1.0.0 ExeFS and RomFS; the build does not extract NSP/XCI files, and other versions are unsupported by the game-specific hooks. Requirements are Windows 10/11 x64, a wgpu-native-supported GPU and driver, Python 3.10+ with lz4, Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools (MSVC and Windows SDK) run from an x64 Native Tools prompt, and Clang/clang++/lld or a separately installed emsdk. Budget at least 45 GB free beyond the game dump. The README documents folder layout, the build.bat flow and troubleshooting in detail project README.

Builds are long, and the script refuses to overwrite an existing dist/SkyboundTOTK/; you move the old package aside and copy its user/ folder to keep saves and settings. An interrupted or stale lift must also be moved aside before retrying. Do not delete your only save backup.

Display features and caveats

The renderer offers FSR 1 spatial upscaling with RCAS sharpening (on by default), experimental frame interpolation (off by default, uses estimated frames, does not reduce input latency and can smear UI and fast motion), and experimental ultrawide. The ultrawide feature is unresolved: a user reported it stretches the image rather than giving a properly proportioned wider view. Keyboard/mouse controls are experimental; XInput and SDL-supported controllers also work.

Known issues include reported shadow/shader problems, randomly stretched terrain, incorrect terrain textures, weapon/shield wheel backgrounds, and several workarounds that need retesting in this standalone build. Frame pacing and compatibility vary by scene and hardware.

Licensing and game files

The original project code is MIT-licensed, but the repository and combined build are not MIT-only: the AArch64 kit includes GPL suyu/yuzu components and other third-party code under their own terms licence, NOTICE. Generated packages contain copyrighted game-derived data and must stay private; game files, keys, firmware and saves are not included. MIT grants no rights to the game. Supporting other TOTK versions is listed as a to-do, not a current capability.

HotRepo's take

The repository was observed at #1 on HotRepo's NEW-REPOSITORY cpp board on 2026-10-28 with 157 total stars. That board is not the daily Trending board and is not a growth measurement; the supplied sample is one date, so no trend can be inferred.