Case study

Portal 2: static recompilation for Apple silicon

Portal 2 is statically recompiled from its Linux x86 modules into a native ARM64 application for macOS and iPhone. Preparation tools lay out ELF modules and apply relocations; a lifter emits C functions that are compiled with a runtime for libc, threading, SDL2, graphics and Steam interfaces. The author reports playable builds on Mac and iPhone.

Targets: Game
Category: Independent reconstruction cases
Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
Sources reviewed: 2026-11-08
Evidence class: C1 partial scope or analysis entry

Stars: 101
Last commit: 2026-11-09
Language: C
License (GitHub): GPL-3.0

GitHub data as of 2026-11-10

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Evidence

Demo screenshot from the project's public documentation

Observed: Download and demo observed; the case covers part of the target software.
Scope: Partial
Checked: 2026-11-09

How evidence classes are assigned

Requirements & limits

Prerequisites: An Apple silicon Mac with Python 3.9 or newer, Homebrew, Xcode command line tools, SDL2, FreeType and Fontconfig.
Prerequisites: An owned Portal 2 copy with its game folder and Linux binaries from Steam depot 661.
Prerequisites: iPhone builds require Xcode, iOS 17 or newer, Developer Mode and about 12 GB of device space.
Limits: Built against Linux depot 661 manifest 8940703274703023246; another release needs new indirect-call roots.
License: GPL-3.0 license.

Cite

BibTeX

@misc{portal-2-apple-silicon-recomp-case,
  title = {{Portal 2: static recompilation for Apple silicon}},
  howpublished = {\url{https://github.com/kanapitsas/portal2-recomp}},
  url = {https://github.com/kanapitsas/portal2-recomp},
  urldate = {2026-11-08},
  note = {Awesome REA entry: \url{https://awesomerea.org/resources/portal-2-apple-silicon-recomp-case/}}
}

Plain text

Portal 2: static recompilation for Apple silicon. https://github.com/kanapitsas/portal2-recomp (accessed 2026-11-08). Awesome REA entry: https://awesomerea.org/resources/portal-2-apple-silicon-recomp-case/

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About this entry

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Primary sources

README.md GitHub · kanapitsas/portal2-recomp · Revision 2704291