# Gears of War 2: a Windows static recompilation with a console runtime

> The Gears of War 2 PC port translates the user's Xbox 360 executable to C++ ahead of time with XenonRecomp and runs it on a Windows runtime with kernel and Direct3D 12 graphics components. Its game-specific notes map executable functions, data layouts and file formats; the author reports scripted coverage of all 29 campaign chapter entry points.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/KiltedKernel/gears-of-war-2-pc-port>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/KiltedKernel/gears-of-war-2-pc-port/blob/41c6b7f76bc2bd1be8916a45b565b2bb6abfe36b/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/gears-of-war-2-pc-port-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/gears-of-war-2-pc-port-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/gears-of-war-2-pc-port-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A disc image of the supported Gears of War 2 release is required.
- **Prerequisites:** Windows 10 or 11 x64, a Direct3D 12 GPU, a Haswell or Zen class CPU, build tools and about 25 GB free space are required.
- **Testing evidence:** The author reports chapter-entry tests, while complete campaign playthroughs and multiplayer between two PCs remain untested.
- **License:** GPL-3.0 license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/KiltedKernel/gears-of-war-2-pc-port/blob/41c6b7f76bc2bd1be8916a45b565b2bb6abfe36b/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/KiltedKernel/gears-of-war-2-pc-port/blob/41c6b7f76bc2bd1be8916a45b565b2bb6abfe36b/docs/REVERSE_ENGINEERING.md>
3. <https://github.com/KiltedKernel/gears-of-war-2-pc-port/blob/41c6b7f76bc2bd1be8916a45b565b2bb6abfe36b/docs/STATUS.md>

## More in Games

- [Gears of War 3: a native Windows recompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gow3-recomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gears of War 3: a XenonRecomp PC port from the Xbox 360 disc](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gears-of-war-3-pc-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gears of War: Judgment for PC: an Xbox 360 static recompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gears-of-war-judgment-pc-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Genma Recomp: an Xbox port with REA investigations of Warlords HD](https://awesomerea.org/resources/genma-recomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [gh3: statically recompiling Guitar Hero III for Windows](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gh3-guitar-hero-iii-case/index.md) · Case study
- [GHMetalRecomp: a Windows static recompilation of Guitar Hero: Metallica](https://awesomerea.org/resources/ghmetalrecomp-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.