# masseffect-nx: statically recompiling Mass Effect for Nintendo Switch

> masseffect-nx ports the Xbox 360 release of Mass Effect to Nintendo Switch by translating PowerPC code from default.xex to C++ with ReXGlue and compiling it for ARM64. A project Vulkan renderer handles the game's GPU commands, while its installer converts Xenos shader microcode from the user's game files to SPIR-V.

- 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/nebadasSwifty/masseffect-nx>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/nebadasSwifty/masseffect-nx/blob/650e14ef109fb0d39bd68ba8d7af61fe459265b8/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/masseffect-nx-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/masseffect-nx-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/masseffect-nx-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A user-supplied supported Xbox 360 Mass Effect disc image or extracted directory containing default.xex.
- **Prerequisites:** Nintendo Switch homebrew setup with a launcher configured for a 39-bit address space.
- **Limits:** The port remains in development; first visits to new areas may pause while Vulkan pipelines are cached.
- **License:** GPL-3.0.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/nebadasSwifty/masseffect-nx/blob/650e14ef109fb0d39bd68ba8d7af61fe459265b8/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/nebadasSwifty/masseffect-nx/blob/650e14ef109fb0d39bd68ba8d7af61fe459265b8/docs/README.md>

## More in Games

- [Max Payne 3 RePrescribed: an Xbox 360 to PS5 recompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/max-payne-3-represcribed-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Max Payne Recomp: an Apple Silicon port through static recompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/max-payne-recomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [mcdub3-nx: recompiling Midnight Club 3 for modern platforms](https://awesomerea.org/resources/mcdub3-nx-case/index.md) · Case study
- [mcg-recomp: statically recompiling MechCommander Gold for Windows](https://awesomerea.org/resources/mcg-recomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [MCX360 Edition: recompiling Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition for iPhone](https://awesomerea.org/resources/mcx360-edition-case/index.md) · Case study
- [MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf: an Xbox static recompilation for Windows](https://awesomerea.org/resources/mechassault-2-recomp-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.