Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.8 — Animation, Co-op & Setup Improvements

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.8

Changes since 0.7.7

• Third-person aiming: Improved weapon facing while jumping, strafing, moving diagonally, crouching, fanning, using melee and taking damage. Held weapons follow the corrected character pose.
• Third-person movement and reloads: Smoother directional transitions, a more natural free arm for one-handed weapons, and reduced excessive torso twisting. Reloads continue when standing up from crouch and follow the direction you face. Updated grips and support-hand paths include the starting revolver and long guns.
• Third-person death camera: Your selected character falls into a ragdoll, and the camera follows the body while staying outside it. Restarting keeps the normal game flow.
• Co-op screen layout: Choose Top and Bottom or Side by Side in Graphics. The shared layout applies when the next co-op mission loads. Each player's view, HUD, reticle and saved settings follow the active layout.
• Co-op character presentation: Updated aiming and action animations are visible when watching the other player, including when that player uses first-person view.
• Enemy blood: Regular enemies now leave the game's native ground blood splats.
• Horseback controls: Lean Left and Lean Right follow the camera's screen direction, including when looking backward.
• Torture Maze weapon switching: Fixed switching back to the campaign mace after equipping a firearm, including with Carry All Weapons disabled.
• Controller and mouse handoff: Deliberate controller input can take over single-player after connecting another pad. Controller navigation hides and suspends the mouse pointer until it moves again. Controls-menu highlighting and navigation recovery are corrected.
• Settings menus: Graphics and Controls have clearer sections, with help text placed beneath the related settings.
• Faster preparation and updates: Reduced repeated animation work, temporary archive writes and peak memory use. Progress reports identify the character, files and archive being prepared. Updates reuse verified unchanged files while fully checking new downloads and outputs.
• Direct launch: Play Darkwatch.exe keeps routine verification silent and avoids opening the launcher or checking GitHub. Actual pending preparation still shows progress.
• Steam Deck instructions: Updated the Linux README with the tested Steam launch commands and separate Proton/MangoHud and game-diagnostic instructions.

Updating

Close the game before updating. Use the launcher's Install Update button, or close the launcher and extract the complete new download over its existing folder, replacing matching package files. Keep GameData, your saves, settings, installed languages and texture packs. For a separate folder, choose Use Existing Install.

Existing installations reuse their game data. This update may prepare changed character animations; it does not require a full disc import for supported current installations. Direct-ISO setups still need their selected ISO in place. On Linux, keep the windows/ and linux/ folders together and preserve .proton/ where applicable.

HD textures

Keep using the existing 0.7 HD gameplay texture pack. No new HD download or reinstall is needed.

For a fresh HD installation, keep all five Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001 through .005 parts together with their original names. Choose Install HD Textures and select .001; the launcher reads the other parts automatically. Do not extract individual parts or mix versions. parts.json is not required. Enable HD Textures in Graphics and Apply afterward.

Both platform downloads contain the same runtime and game changes. The Linux/Proton package remains experimental; shared binaries and Windows checks do not establish new Linux gameplay or performance verification.

Thanks to @brandonsoto for Steam Deck and live Linux testing and feedback.

The matching Source.zip contains the authored sources and SDK patches. Original disc assets and generated game code are not included.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.7 — Third-Person & Launcher Update

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.7

Changes since 0.7.6

• Third-person play: Graphics now offers Centered and Shoulder camera views, with a separately saved choice for each local co-op player. First Person remains the default. Swap shoulders smoothly using V, or assign your preferred keyboard/controller button in Controls.
• Third-person weapon handling: Updated character movement, aiming, grips and reload poses across the selectable roster. Shots follow the centered reticle; the starting revolver has smoother reload transitions, and the Redeemer's supporting hand follows its magazine. Dual-pistol and long-gun attachment corrections are included.
• Third-person zoom: Blood Vision zoom stays in third-person and returns to your chosen framing when released. Scoped weapons retain their first-person scope view.
• 16:10 displays: Automatic now uses the full 16:10 view, and an explicit Widescreen 16:10 choice is available. Menus, mouse targets, HUD positioning and cinematic framing follow the selected proportions.
• Menu presentation: HD Artwork Off now gives the newer Graphics, Controls, Audio and character-selection panels their original-resolution artwork and fonts. A separate Menu Aspect Ratio option lets you choose Widescreen or Original 4:3 for the frontend.
• Jericho's outfit: Corrected his mounted and in-game cinematic duster to use the black coat when Jericho is selected.
• Launcher redesign: Organized Game Files, Textures & Languages, and Updates & Support into clear sections, with consistent buttons, correctly fitted cover art and layouts that adapt to smaller desktop work areas. The Linux setup menu follows the same grouping.
• Windows presentation: The game window and taskbar now use the Darker Edition icon.

Updating

Close the game before updating. Use the launcher's Check for Updates and Install Update buttons when this version is available, or close the launcher and extract the complete Windows download over your existing launcher folder, replacing matching package files.

On Linux, use ./Darkwatch.sh --download-update from a native terminal or replace matching files with the complete Linux download. Keep the windows/ and linux/ folders together, and preserve .proton/ where applicable.

Keep GameData, saves, settings, installed languages and HD textures. Existing installations reuse their game files; a full disc import is not required. The launcher may prepare changed character data. Direct-ISO installations still need their ISO in place. For a separate installation folder, choose Use Existing Install.

HD textures

Keep using the existing 0.7 HD gameplay texture pack. No new HD download or reinstall is needed.

For a fresh HD installation, download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001 through .005 from the 0.7 release. Keep all five parts together with their original names, choose Install HD Textures, and select .001. The launcher reads the other parts automatically; do not extract the individual parts or mix versions. parts.json is not required. Enable Graphics > HD Textures and Apply afterward.

Linux terminal installation: ./Darkwatch.sh --install-hd-textures "/path/to/Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001"

The experimental Linux/Proton package uses the same runtime and changes. Live Linux gameplay verification remains pending for this update.

Developers can use the matching Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.7.7-Source.zip for authored sources and SDK patches.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.6 — Ultrawide & Linux

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.6 — Ultrawide

Changes since 0.7.5:

• Ultrawide displays: Adds 21:9 and 32:9 choices, plus Automatic aspect ratio that follows the display's actual proportions. Existing 4:3 and 16:9 choices remain available. Existing installations should select Graphics → Aspect Ratio → Automatic to use their display's full width.
• Gameplay and co-op: Expands the horizontal view while preserving vertical framing. Health and ammo remain anchored to their edges, reticles stay centered, and each horizontal co-op view gets its own correctly proportioned HUD.
• Menus and subtitles: Keeps artwork and text proportional, with matching mouse targets. Pause shading, loading transitions, warnings and screen effects cover the wider display.
• Movies and in-game cinematics: Preserves FMV proportions in Original and Fill modes, retaining the reviewed black-border crops. In-game cinematics gain the wider view while retaining their previous vertical framing and correctly sized cinematic borders.
• Linux without Steam: Adds an optional umu-launcher route to the existing setup, play, HD installation and update menus. The native launcher also checks for a missing desktop display before starting preparation. Thanks to BitJager-dev for testing and documenting the working setup that informed this integration. See the Linux README for commands and requirements.

Updating

Close the game before updating. On Windows, use Manage → Check for Updates → Install Update. For a manual update, close the launcher too and extract the complete Windows package over the existing launcher folder, replacing matching package files.

On Linux, close the game and Steam shortcut, then use ./Darkwatch.sh --download-update from a native terminal or replace matching files with the complete Linux package. Keep its windows/ and linux/ folders together, along with .proton/ where applicable.

Keep GameData/, external installations, saves, settings, installed languages and HD textures. A working installation reuses its game files; another full disc import is not required. Direct-ISO users must keep their ISO available. Missing or damaged original files may require the original disc again. Shader preparation validates or extends the existing cache. If using a separate package folder, choose Use Existing Install to select the previous installation.

HD textures

Keep using the existing 0.7 HD gameplay texture pack. No new pack or reinstall is needed.

For a fresh HD installation, download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001 through .005 from the 0.7 release. Keep all five parts together with their original names. Choose Manage → Install HD Textures and select .001; the launcher reads the other parts automatically. Do not extract the parts individually or mix versions. parts.json is not required. Enable Graphics → HD Textures → Apply afterward.

Linux terminal users can run ./Darkwatch.sh --install-hd-textures "/path/to/Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001".

For the no-Steam route, install umu-launcher and a Proton tool such as GE-Proton, then run ./Darkwatch.sh --umu --proton "/path/to/GE-Proton" from a desktop terminal. Keep these --umu --proton options on subsequent play, HD-install and update commands. See the packaged Linux README for full setup instructions.

Developers: download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.7.6-Source.zip for the matching authored sources and SDK patches.

Verification

Windows checks covered 21:9 and 32:9 windows, menus, single-player, horizontal co-op, FMV framing and the mounted opening cinematic. These checks were performed on a standard desktop display; a physical ultrawide monitor and every campaign cinematic have not been checked. Wider cinematic edges can expose staging outside the original view in untested scenes.

The experimental Linux/Proton package contains the same runtime and changes. A community report confirms working 0.7.5 gameplay, setup, HD textures, controller input and audio through umu on CachyOS with a Radeon 780M. Linux gameplay and the new integrated umu route have not been live verified for this update.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.5 — Languages & Fixes

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.5 — Languages & Fixes

Changes since 0.7.4:

• French, German and Italian: Import native game text, mapped dialogue and movie voices from your supported PAL PS2 ISO (SLES-53564) through Manage Game → Install PS2 Language. Spanish remains available through the same action. Select an installed language for the next launch; existing language installations are preserved.
• Brazilian Portuguese text: Adds the optional HNNEWGAMES v1.1 text adaptation, translated project menus and corrected accented headings. This is text-only: English audio is the default, with optional Spanish voices from a verified Spanish installation. No Portuguese dubbing is included.
• Language display fixes: Accented native headings now render correctly, and French and Italian Controls reset labels fit within their buttons.
• Expanded shader preparation: Prepares 25 additional gameplay shader variants and eight renderer helpers before play, reusing the existing cache. The tested Boneyard replay no longer compiled shaders during play; other scene-loading stalls can still occur.
• Movie framing corrections: Refines Fill Screen framing for two movies where brief flashes caused oversized borders. Picture proportions and normal scene composition are retained; Original Aspect Ratio is unchanged.
• Jericho while mounted: Fixes regular Jericho changing to the Civilian body in the Ride Like the Devil opening and mounted gameplay. Explicit Civilian Jericho still uses his Civilian outfit. Both selections were checked visually and against the active loaded models on Windows.
• Update recovery: Fixes a launcher recovery handoff that could close the launcher before its recovery worker was ready. Failed recovery startup is now detected and reported while retaining recovery data and backups.

Updating

Close the game before updating. On Windows, use Manage → Check for Updates → Install Update. For a manual update, also close the launcher and extract the complete Windows package over the existing launcher folder, replacing matching package files.

On Linux, close the game and Steam shortcut, then use ./Darkwatch.sh --download-update from a native terminal or replace matching files with the complete Linux package. Keep the package's windows/ and linux/ folders together, along with .proton/ where applicable.

Keep GameData/, external installation folders, saves, settings, installed languages and HD textures. A current installation refreshes the revised character resources from its retained recovery data or linked Xbox ISO; another full Xbox disc import is not required. Direct-ISO users must keep their ISO available. Missing recovery data or damaged original files may require the original ISO again. Shader preparation validates or extends the existing cache. If moving to another package folder, use Use Existing Install to select the previous installation.

HD textures

The existing 0.7 HD gameplay texture pack remains compatible. No new download or reinstall is needed for an installed pack.

For a fresh HD installation, download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001 through .005 from the 0.7 release. Keep all five parts together with their original names. Choose Manage → Install HD Textures and select .001; the installer reads the other parts automatically. Do not extract the parts individually or mix versions. parts.json is not required. Enable Graphics → HD Textures → Apply afterward.

Linux terminal users can run ./Darkwatch.sh --install-hd-textures "/path/to/Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001". For the Steam setup route, temporarily use -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --install-hd-textures "/path/to/Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001" as Launch Options, then restore -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play when installation finishes.

Language setup

After setting up the Xbox game, choose Manage Game → Install PS2 Language, select Spanish, French, German or Italian, and select your own supported PAL PS2 ISO (SLES-53564). Let the import finish, then select the installed language before the next launch. PS2 language media is converted locally; it is not included in the release.

For Portuguese, choose Install Portuguese Translation, then Português (Brasil). This optional text adaptation is not contained on the PS2 disc. It uses a verified Spanish audio installation when present; otherwise voices remain English. Install Spanish from your PS2 ISO first if you want those voices with Portuguese text. Imported movie voices use the PS2 stereo mix. Dialogue slots that are silent on the PS2 disc retain English, and other character/grunt banks are outside the import's scope.

Windows checks covered sampled language menus, headings and layouts, plus the mounted Jericho scene. They do not establish complete campaign translation, every dialogue/subtitle line or full audio/animation fidelity. The Linux/Proton package includes the same changes and remains experimental; Linux gameplay has not been live verified.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.4 — Controls, Characters & HUD

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.4 — Controls, Characters & HUD

Changes since 0.7.3:

• Proportional FMV Fill: Fill Screen now enlarges movies without stretching the picture. It removes only verified built-in black borders, preserving the scene and embedded text. Some bars can remain to avoid cropping. Original Aspect Ratio still displays the complete encoded frame, and animated menu backgrounds are unchanged.
• Hold or toggle walking: Choose your preferred Walk Mode in Controls. Caps Lock is the default keyboard binding; controller users can assign Walk in Controller Layout. Each player has their own mode and controller binding. Walking applies to on-foot movement.
• Hold or toggle aiming: Controls now includes Sight Mode for the existing aim button, with separate settings for each player. Hold aims while the button is pressed; Toggle cycles the weapon's sight modes, including the sniper's zoom stages. Toggle remains the default.
• HUD visibility: Show HUD in Graphics can hide each player's gameplay HUD and reticle independently. Pause menus and subtitles remain available.
• Reticle colors: Customize the normal, enemy and friendly reticle colors separately with RGB sliders. Each player has independent choices, with Original and Reset options to restore the game's colors.
• Optional starting revolver: Keep Starting Revolver is now a Gameplay Option, off by default. Enable it to retain the starter alongside your normal weapon pair. With it disabled, an old save's equipped starter is removed after a safe weapon switch once you own the Redeemer; the opening mission's only gun is preserved.
• Carry All consistency: Turning Carry All Weapons off restores the normal two-weapon selection. Extra collected weapons stay stored and become available again when it is enabled. The same rules apply to alternate characters and both local co-op players. Carry All remains off by default; existing saved choices are preserved.
• Selected characters in campaign cinematics: In-game story scenes now use your selected character for the protagonist, including the Boneyard Feed / Save Soul sequence. Local co-op uses Player 1's selection for that role. Story NPCs and prerecorded FMVs retain their original appearance.
• HD HUD glow: Restored the missing left tip and corrected the shape and alignment of the red HUD glow. This is included with HD Artwork and does not require the optional gameplay texture pack.
• Audio menu layout: Surround-output status and warning text now stay inside the panel, including the Spanish layout.
• Installation recovery: The launcher can reconnect to a specific existing installation when its active selection is missing or incorrect. It avoids silently starting another import when completed installations are already present. English and Spanish recovery instructions are included.

Updating

Close the game before updating. On Windows, use Manage → Check for Updates → Install Update. For a manual update, also close the launcher and extract the complete Windows package over the existing launcher folder, replacing matching package files.

Keep GameData/, any external installation folder, and your ISO if you use direct-ISO mode. Saves, settings, Spanish resources and installed HD textures are reused. If you move to a new package folder, use Use Existing Install to select your previous installation.

This update prepares the revised character content once. A current installation uses its retained recovery data or linked ISO; it does not need another full disc import. Direct-ISO users must keep the ISO available. Older installations without recovery data, or installations with damaged original files, may need the original ISO again. Shader preparation may also validate or refresh its cache.

If the launcher cannot find your installation but completed folders remain under GameData/versions/, choose Use Existing Install and select the specific version folder containing your saves. Keep those folders until you have checked your progress.

On Linux, close the game and Steam shortcut, then use ./Darkwatch.sh --download-update from a native terminal, or manually replace the matching files with the complete Linux package. Keep GameData/, .proton/ where applicable, your Steam shortcut, and the package's windows/ and linux/ folders together.

HD textures

The existing 0.7 HD gameplay texture pack remains compatible. No new download or reinstall is needed for an installed pack. The HUD correction is supplied by the game update's HD Artwork resources.

For a fresh HD installation, download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001 through .005 from the 0.7 release. Keep all five parts together with their original names. Choose Manage → Install HD Textures and select .001; the installer reads the other parts automatically. Do not extract the parts individually or mix versions. parts.json is not required. Enable Graphics → HD Textures → Apply afterward.

Linux terminal users can run ./Darkwatch.sh --install-hd-textures "/path/to/Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001". For the Steam setup route, temporarily use -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --install-hd-textures "/path/to/Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001" as Launch Options, then restore -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play when installation finishes.

Windows and experimental Linux/Proton packages use the same runtime and content changes. Linux/Proton still requires live testing. Local split-screen co-op remains beta. The cinematic changes have been checked in Boneyard; every campaign scene and character combination has not yet been watched in gameplay.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.3 — Logging & Diagnostics

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.3 — Logging & Diagnostics

Changes since 0.7.2:

• Optional session diagnostics: Enable Manage Game → Diagnostic Logging before reproducing a problem. Records launcher/setup/update/shader errors, runtime and device details, controller/input activity, menu ownership, frame timing and audio-buffer statistics. Logging is off by default and applies to the next game session.
• Open Logs: A new launcher button opens the local logs folder. Nothing uploads automatically. Linux's native launcher also captures Proton startup output when diagnostics are enabled.
• FMV scaling: Choose Original Aspect Ratio or Fill Screen in main-menu or pause-menu Graphics. Original Aspect Ratio fits the full movie frame without stretching or cropping; Fill Screen preserves the previous stretched presentation. Includes intro FMVs. Authored black borders remain; animated menu backgrounds are unaffected.
• Menu and movie timing: Corrected the vertical-blank wait that could reduce menu/movie presentation below its intended 60 Hz cadence. Gameplay keeps its separate FPS cap. This is not a confirmed fix for all reported audio crackling; the new diagnostics help investigate it.

Reporting a problem

Enable diagnostics before reproducing the issue, then use Open Logs and share the relevant files manually. Logs are in GameData/logs in the launcher folder. Include what happened, your platform and the approximate time. On Linux use Manage installation → Diagnostic logging or ./Darkwatch.sh --set-diagnostics on; the Steam setup route accepts --set-diagnostics on in place of --play.

Logs can contain local paths, device names and settings. Review them before sharing. They do not record desktop typing, screenshots or audio recordings. Game logs are capped at 64 MiB per session, retaining up to 30 sessions; launcher logs have separate limits. These are detailed session logs, not exhaustive traces or full memory/GPU dumps. Logging can affect timing; disable it after testing. It cannot recover an earlier session or guarantee a record of failures before logging starts.

Windows and experimental Linux/Proton packages share the same runtime. Linux/Proton still needs live testing. Local split-screen co-op remains beta.

Updating

Close the game before updating. Use Manage → Check for Updates → Install
Update in the Windows launcher. For a manual
update, close the launcher too and extract the complete Windows package over
your existing launcher folder, replacing matching package files.

Keep GameData/, any externally selected installation folder, and your ISO
if you use direct-ISO mode. Saves, settings, Spanish resources and installed HD
textures are reused. If you choose a new folder, use Use Existing Install to
select your previous installation. This update reuses your existing installation or linked ISO and does not
require another full disc import. Shader preparation may validate or refresh its
cache for the new runtime.

On Linux, close the game and Steam shortcut. Use
./Darkwatch.sh --download-update from a native terminal, or
replace the matching files from the complete Linux package manually. Keep
GameData/, .proton/ when using that route, and your existing Steam shortcut.
Keep the package's windows/ and linux/ folders together. The Steam setup
shortcut cannot replace its own running Python files.

HD textures

Keep the existing 0.7 HD texture pack. It is compatible with 0.7.3; an installed
pack needs no download or reinstallation. No new HD pack accompanies this update.
Earlier compatible packs retain their existing coverage.

For a fresh installation, download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001
through .005 from the
0.7 release.
Keep all five parts in one folder with their original names. Choose
Manage → Install HD Textures and select .001. The installer reads the
other parts automatically; do not extract the parts individually or mix versions.
parts.json is not required. Enable Graphics → HD Textures → Apply afterward.

For the Linux Steam setup route, temporarily set Launch Options to:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --install-hd-textures "Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001"

Restore -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play afterward.

First-time setup

Supply your supported original Xbox Darkwatch ISO/XISO. Put one disc image in
assets/ and open the launcher for direct-ISO setup, or choose Select Game
to import once. Direct-ISO mode reads unmodified resources from the ISO and
requires it to remain available; import-once mode allows you to remove the ISO
after setup. Both modes prepare the required local resources and shaders.
Original game files are not included.

For Linux Steam, add windows/payload/python/python.exe as a Non-Steam Game.
Set Start In to the extracted package folder, enable an installed Proton
version in Compatibility, and use:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play

Working Vulkan drivers and an installed Proton version are required. Proton
Experimental is optional. This is a Proton package, not a native Linux port.
The Windows graphical launcher has not been verified under Proton.

Spanish remains available through Manage → Install Spanish, using your own
European PAL PS2 disc (SLES-53564) alongside the required Xbox game source.
Existing installed Spanish resources and the language selection are preserved.

Powered by XboxXBERecomp.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.2

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.2

Changes since 0.7.1:

• Starting revolver fanning: Hold Fire to fan the six-shot revolver, then reload normally. The shared weapon and character animation setup supports single-player, local co-op and Gunslinger while retaining the revolver's six-round capacity, accuracy and damage tuning.
• Dual pistols with Carry All Weapons: Fixed cycling away from and back to the dual pistols selecting the attached left-hand gun as a separate weapon. Both pistols now remain together. Co-op inventory snapshots also exclude that attached child weapon.
• Selectable 5.1 and 7.1 surround: Audio now offers Stereo, 5.1 Surround and 7.1 Surround. Compatible 7.1 devices can use separate side and rear routing for positional sounds. Unsupported output falls back to an available layout. Configure your playback device first and restart the game after changing its speaker layout. This does not convert existing movie mixes into newly authored 7.1 audio.
• Controller input after menus: Corrected an input-release check that could leave controls blocked by small trigger values or stick drift. Deliberately held buttons still require release. The fix is included in both platforms; Steam Deck live confirmation remains outstanding.
• Gunslinger loading: Fixed a resource-loading failure when starting Gunslinger from Extras with the expanded campaign resources installed.
• Gunslinger character selection: Extras → Gunslinger now opens the rotating character selector, with all ten existing playable characters available before the original chapter and difficulty screens. Gunslinger keeps its original rules and unlock requirements and shares the installed campaign texture and gameplay improvements.
• Shader setup in deep folders: Corrected shader-cache and completion-file access when long filenames exceed Windows' normal path limit. Existing cache validation remains intact.

Local split-screen co-op remains beta. The
Windows and experimental Linux/Proton packages use the same runtime and game
preparation tools. Linux/Proton still needs live testing. Targeted Windows
gameplay and menu checks do not establish full-campaign coverage; physical 7.1
speaker playback has not been verified.

Updating

Close the game before updating. Use Manage → Check for Updates → Install
Update in the Windows launcher. For a manual
update, close the launcher too and extract the complete Windows package over
your existing launcher folder, replacing matching package files.

Keep GameData/, any externally selected installation folder, and your ISO
if you use direct-ISO mode. Saves, settings, Spanish resources and installed HD
textures are reused. If you choose a new folder, use Use Existing Install to
select your previous installation. This update refreshes prepared character and
weapon resources for revolver fanning; allow that preparation to finish on the
first launch. It reuses your existing installation or linked ISO and does not
require another full disc import. Shader preparation may validate or refresh its
cache for the new runtime.

On Linux, close the game and Steam shortcut. Use
./Darkwatch.sh --download-update from a native terminal, or
replace the matching files from the complete Linux package manually. Keep
GameData/, .proton/ when using that route, and your existing Steam shortcut.
Keep the package's windows/ and linux/ folders together. The Steam setup
shortcut cannot replace its own running Python files.

HD textures

Keep the existing 0.7 HD texture pack. It is compatible with 0.7.2; an installed
pack needs no download or reinstallation. No new HD pack accompanies this update.
Earlier compatible packs retain their existing coverage.

For a fresh installation, download Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001
through .005 from the
0.7 release.
Keep all five parts in one folder with their original names. Choose
Manage → Install HD Textures and select .001. The installer reads the
other parts automatically; do not extract the parts individually or mix versions.
parts.json is not required. Enable Graphics → HD Textures → Apply afterward.

For the Linux Steam setup route, temporarily set Launch Options to:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --install-hd-textures "Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001"

Restore -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play afterward.

First-time setup

Supply your supported original Xbox Darkwatch ISO/XISO. Put one disc image in
assets/ and open the launcher for direct-ISO setup, or choose Select Game
to import once. Direct-ISO mode reads unmodified resources from the ISO and
requires it to remain available; import-once mode allows you to remove the ISO
after setup. Both modes prepare the required local resources and shaders.
Original game files are not included.

For Linux Steam, add windows/payload/python/python.exe as a Non-Steam Game.
Set Start In to the extracted package folder, enable an installed Proton
version in Compatibility, and use:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play

Working Vulkan drivers and an installed Proton version are required. Proton
Experimental is optional. This is a Proton package, not a native Linux port.
The Windows graphical launcher has not been verified under Proton.

Spanish remains available through Manage → Install Spanish, using your own
European PAL PS2 disc (SLES-53564) alongside the required Xbox game source.
Existing installed Spanish resources and the language selection are preserved.

Powered by XboxXBERecomp.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7.1

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7.1

Changes since 0.7:

• Steadier Blood Vision: Corrected differences between normal character rendering and the highlight pass that caused dark patches and flickering on highlighted bodies. The correction works at higher frame rates without requiring a 60 FPS cap.
• Forever Ragdolls: Added a default-off Graphics option to keep ordinary enemy ragdolls in the current level. Players can push them, and already-active physical bodies placed in a level also react to contact. Original deliberate disintegration and gib effects remain intact.
• More consistent corpse interaction: Improved push strength and corrected a contact-distance calculation that made bodies harder to move at high frame rates. The reported 60/240 FPS difference was checked in Windows playtesting.
• Encounter progression with retained bodies: Dead bodies no longer occupy the enemy-spawn budget or report leftover health to the affected encounter checks. This prevents the reproduced wave/cutscene stalls and avoids the old body limit forcing later deaths to disappear immediately.
• Co-op player bodies: With Forever Ragdolls enabled, an individually respawning co-op player leaves a separate physical body using their selected character and final pose. The original player object is still removed normally; its controls and inventory are not kept on the corpse. Turning the option off removes these retained player bodies.
• Co-op respawn inventory: With Carry All Weapons enabled, a player who dies and respawns while their partner stays alive retains their own collected guns and ammunition. The surviving player's inventory is left alone.
• Revolver ammo pickups: Redeemer ammunition can now be collected when an owned starter revolver needs ammo, even if the Redeemer is full. Both guns keep their separate ammunition counts and capacity limits.
• Mouse zoom sensitivity: Zoom sensitivity now compensates for the actual camera magnification, including the zoom transition. At 100%, small aiming movements near the crosshair are comparable between zoomed and unzoomed views; the slider still lets you adjust from there. Previously saved values are kept, so players who lowered this setting to compensate may want to raise it again.
• Reticle controls: Reticle size now ranges from 0% to 200%: 100% is the normal size and 0% hides it. Each co-op player keeps their own setting. Reticle and zoom explanations appear beneath their settings, matching the other menu descriptions.
• Mark of Evil effect: Corrected the camera-facing tree explosion effect so its edges no longer appear as an inset square or diamond with wider views. The original world particles and explosion remain.
• Character TNT voices: Playable Cassidy and Tala variants use their character effort sounds for the TNT throw vocal cue, while retaining the separate throwing and fuse sounds.
• Resource preparation: The new player-body resources reuse existing resource indexing during preparation, avoiding repeated parsing and unnecessary work.

Windows and experimental Linux/Proton packages contain the same updated runtime
and preparation tools. Co-op remains beta. Linux/Proton remains experimental
and still needs live testing. Targeted Windows tests and user feedback cover
the reported fixes; they do not establish full-campaign or every-character
verification. Forever Ragdolls can increase memory and physics work as bodies
accumulate; retained bodies are not a new persistent save feature.

Updating from 0.7

Close Darkwatch before updating. In the Windows launcher, use
Manage → Check for Updates → Install Update. For a manual update, close the
launcher too and extract the complete 0.7.1 package over the existing package
folder, replacing matching package files.

Keep GameData/, any externally selected installation folder, and any ISO used
in direct-ISO mode. Existing saves, settings, Spanish resources and compatible HD
textures are reused. If you extract into a different folder, choose
Use Existing Install and point it at the previous installation.

This update prepares the new character-body resources once. Modern
import-once installations reuse their installed recovery data without the ISO;
direct-ISO installations still need the ISO in its selected location. Older
extracted installations without recovery data may need one final ISO import.
Preparation does not mean you need another HD-pack download.

On Linux, close the game and Steam shortcut before updating. You can run
./Darkwatch.sh --download-update from a native terminal, or replace the complete
package's matching files manually. Keep GameData/, the existing Steam
shortcut, and .proton/ if using the terminal route. Keep windows/ and
linux/ together. The Steam setup shortcut cannot replace its own running Python
files.

HD textures: keep your existing pack

The 0.7 HD texture pack is compatible with 0.7.1. If it is already installed,
keep it; no download or reinstallation is needed. No new HD pack is uploaded
with this release. Earlier compatible packs also work, with their existing
coverage.

For a fresh installation, download the five HD parts from the
0.7 release:
Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001 through .005. Keep all
five in one folder with their original names. In
Manage → Install HD Textures, select .001; the installer reads the other
parts automatically. Do not extract the individual parts, and do not mix pack
versions. parts.json is not required. Enable the installed pack in
Graphics → HD Textures → Apply.

For the Linux Steam route, temporarily use:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --install-hd-textures "Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-HD-Textures-0.7.zip.001"

Restore -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play afterward. The native
terminal launcher also offers HD installation.

First-time setup

The existing disc and language choices remain available. Put one supported Xbox
ISO/XISO in assets/ and launch for direct-ISO setup, or use Select Game to
import once or reuse an existing installation. Direct mode keeps using the ISO;
import-once mode lets you remove it after successful preparation. Original game
files are not included.

For Linux Steam, add windows/payload/python/python.exe as a Non-Steam Game,
set Start In to the extracted package folder, select an installed Proton
version in Compatibility, and use:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play

An installed Proton version and working Vulkan drivers are required;
Proton Experimental is optional. This is a Proton package, not a native Linux
port. The Windows graphical launcher has not been verified under Proton.

Spanish installation remains under Manage → Install Spanish, using your own
European PAL PS2 disc (SLES-53564) alongside the required Xbox game source.
Existing installed language resources and the selected language are preserved.

Powered by XboxXBERecomp.

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.7

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.7

Changes since 0.6.1:

• Choose how to use your disc: Put one supported Xbox ISO/XISO in the included assets folder and open the launcher for automatic first-time setup. Select Game also offers direct Xbox ISO playback, import-once installation, or reuse of an existing installation. Direct ISO mode keeps the disc image in use and copies only the resources that need preparation. Import once lets you remove the ISO after setup.
• Faster first-time preparation: Removed repeated resource-list rebuilding and streamlined archive writing while retaining the same verification checks and prepared game files. The content-conversion stage measured about nine times faster on the test PC. With the latest shader preparation, an empty direct-ISO installation completed in about 2 minutes 25 seconds, compared with 5 minutes 4 seconds in the preceding test. These are single-PC measurements with normal operating-system caches; setup time depends on your CPU and storage.
• Faster shader preparation: Added 34 more observed shader variants to first-time preparation and compile using up to four CPU workers. Completed shaders are verified and reused; failed or cancelled preparation cannot mark an installation ready. New unseen shaders and graphics-driver pipeline creation can still occur during play.
• Simpler launcher and updates: The ready home screen centers on Play, with files, language and textures under Manage. The launcher checks GitHub for newer compatible releases. Install Update downloads and verifies the matching package, replaces its managed files in place, and preserves your game data, saves, settings and installed add-ons. Downloads start only when you choose them.
• Less update copying: Updates to an extracted installation no longer temporarily copy unrelated original movies and dialogue files. Verification and preservation of installed data remain in place.
• Linux launch choices: Clarified how to select an installed Proton version and set environment options in Steam. Experimental is optional. The optional terminal launcher now preserves explicitly supplied Proton and driver logging settings.
• Co-op texture quality: With HD textures disabled or absent, co-op now uses the full original single-player world and character textures. Both modes continue to use the same optional HD replacements.
• Split-screen proportions: Corrected camera, HUD, text and reticle proportions in horizontal split-screen while retaining each player's FOV settings and HUD edge spacing.
• Grenades: Restored switching between TNT and Splitter Grenades, including the empty-grenade fallback. The two types keep their own ammo counts and refill behavior.
• Mouse aiming and screen effects: Mouse zoom sensitivity now reads the equipped weapon's actual zoom state. Power effects such as Silver Bullet cover the intended view instead of appearing as an inset rectangle at expanded FOV.
• Weapons: Fixed missing left-hand pistol attachments for Civilian Jericho and the blue/red Troopers. The starter revolver remains available after receiving the Redeemer, deals 65 base damage, and has zero random shot spread with the Redeemer's range settings. A clean headshot kills a standard opening Reaper on every difficulty in single-player and co-op; ordinary body shots still take more than one hit. Accepted Redeemer ammo refills also replenish an owned revolver; firing either weapon still uses its own ammo.
• Campaign weapon restoration: When the campaign returns your weapons after a story transition, it also returns the starter revolver in single-player and co-op. Authored unarmed scenes, horseback restrictions and weapon trials remain intact, and the restored revolver does not replace another carried gun.
• Optional weapon capacity: Added the shared, default-off Carry All Weapons cheat and separate Next/Previous Weapon bindings in Controls, including mouse-wheel cycling. These binding rows are unavailable while Carry All is off, without clearing your assignments. Turning it off keeps already collected weapons while restoring normal pickup capacity rules. Corrected weapon identification used by cycling and revolver ammo refills.
• More playable Tala variants: Vampire Tala and wingless Boss Tala join both single-player and co-op character selectors, with their own previews and first-person arms. The story NPC boss remains unchanged.
• Regular Tala's gloves: Dedicated HD black-leather artwork fits the original first-person hand rig, replacing the stretched converted hands while retaining the original weapon animations. This is included in the base update and does not require another HD-pack download.
• Cinematics and menus: Corrected in-engine widescreen cinematic proportions while preserving the authored horizontal framing and animated camera FOV. Chapter preview transparency removes the black rectangle behind the frame. Graphics and Controls have taller lists inside narrower panels; Audio also uses the compact scale and has its own pause-menu entry for both players.
• Interface and stability: Improved small HD HUD power emblems and multiplayer indicators, and corrected a campaign stream fallback involved in a reproduced Wrong Train loading crash.
• Checkpoint caption: Prevented expired checkpoint text from flashing during weapon changes while retaining genuine checkpoint messages and their fades.
• HUD brightness: Fixed the brief health-display brightness flash during weapon changes by restoring the intended interface transparency.
• Enemy eye glow: Corrected the rendering offset that made glowing eyes appear displaced from enemies at a distance.
• Subtitle setting: Subtitles can now be turned on or off from Pause → Graphics for either player, as well as from the main-menu Graphics screen. Applying the setting takes effect for subsequent dialogue or scenes; it does not recreate captions for a line already playing. This fixes the case where the menu showed On but captions stayed disabled.
• Expanded HD pack: A new separate pack adds reviewed campaign, character, prop, weapon and blood texture coverage, including Cassidy's story ragdoll and matching distance versions. Shared texture data reduces download duplication without losing detail, alpha or mipmaps. Existing published packs remain compatible; they cannot supply artwork that was not included in those packs.

Windows and experimental Linux/Proton use the same runtime and game preparation.
Co-op remains beta. Linux/Proton remains experimental and needs live testing.
Direct-ISO preparation from an empty Windows installation completed and passed
file verification, without changing the ISO. The separate compact HD pack also
installed and passed full file verification. A fresh Windows copy reached
the opening mission and pause menu in a bounded visual check; the final shader
preparation additions were then verified offline and at startup. Extended gameplay
acceptance is still pending. Targeted Windows checks and user reports do not establish full-campaign, every-character,
physical 5.1-speaker, or complete Spanish playback verification. Prerecorded
movie aspect handling is separate from the in-engine cinematic correction.

Windows setup

Extract the complete Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.7-Windows-x64.zip into a
writable folder. Keep both EXEs and the payload folder together.

For automatic first-time setup, first put one supported Xbox ISO/XISO in the
included assets/ folder. The launcher uses it directly and prepares the
required resources and shaders. Keep the ISO there for play and updates.
If multiple images are present, choose one in Select Game. Existing
installations take priority; dropping in an ISO does not replace them.

The manual Select Game choices remain available:

1. Use ISO directly: Select your supported original Xbox ISO/XISO. Keep it
   in place for play and updates. Setup still verifies the disc and prepares
   characters, the HD interface and shaders; it can take several minutes.
2. Import once: Copy the game locally and complete preparation. You can
   remove the ISO afterward; normal play and future updates reuse installed data.
3. Use Existing Install: Select a prior launcher folder or its GameData/
   folder. The game, saves and add-ons stay there and are reused without duplication.

Choose Play when setup finishes. Play Darkwatch.exe starts the same
prepared game without opening the launcher. Neither mode changes your source ISO.
If a directly used ISO moves, select its new location using Use ISO directly.

Updating without losing your installation

Once this launcher is installed, Manage → Check for Updates → Install Update
downloads a newer matching release and updates this folder. Close the game first.
An interrupted replacement is recovered when the launcher next starts.

For a manual update, close the game and launcher and extract the complete new
package over the existing package folder, replacing matching package files.
Keep GameData/, any externally selected installation folder, and any ISO used
in direct mode. If using a separate new package folder instead, choose
Use Existing Install and point it at the original game data.

Updating from published 0.6.1 can need one final Xbox ISO import because its
older content lacks the small recovery records used by the new content updater.
Follow the launcher's setup prompt; saves, settings and compatible optional packs
are retained. After import-once setup with this version, future updates reuse
that recovery data without the ISO. Direct ISO mode continues using its ISO.

Experimental Linux / Proton

Extract Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.7-Linux-Proton-Experimental.tar.gz into a
writable folder. Use native Linux Steam, an installed Proton version and working Vulkan
drivers. Keep windows/ and linux/ together and use real package/GameData files
ra...

Darkwatch: Darker Edition — 0.6.1

Darkwatch: Darker Edition 0.6.1

Changes since 0.6:

• Co-op loading: Increased string-storage capacity to address a reproduced loading crash when entering the next Torture Maze room.
• Co-op views: Each player's Pause → Graphics keeps separate world FOV, weapon FOV and reticle size. Controller settings remain separate; display-wide options stay shared.
• Horseback boss: Fixed Lazarus getting stuck during his first mounted attack phase at high frame rates, confirmed working at 240 FPS.
• Directional audio: Corrected positional panning and surround routing. Left/right and front/back movement was confirmed with Windows Sonic headphones.
• Spanish from your PS2 disc: Install Spanish text, subtitles, dialogue and 14 matched story/intro movie soundtracks from your supported PAL PS2 ISO. Select English or Español in the launcher. The old community-pack dependency is removed.
• Trooper weapons: Restored the authored weapon grip for standard, red and blue Troopers.
• Installer progress: Character preparation shows progress and handles cancellation more responsively. This step can still take several minutes.
• Windows and Linux: Both downloads contain the same updated runtime and importer. Keep using the existing HD pack.

Testing: Co-op remains beta and Linux/Proton remains experimental. Linux gameplay, physical 5.1 speakers, broader Spanish playback/synchronization and wider campaign transitions still need live testing. The fixed Torture Maze destination loads in live co-op testing; completing the trial naturally into that room still needs testing. The boss confirmation covers the reported phase.

Windows and updating

Extract Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.6.1-Windows-x64.zip, open Darkwatch Darker Edition.exe, and import your original Xbox ISO/XISO. Wait for verification and shader preparation. Play Darkwatch.exe starts the installed game directly.

Updating requires Import / Repair with your Xbox ISO to rebuild the updated character data. Close the game, extract to a new folder, copy your previous GameData/ into it, then run Import / Repair. Saves, settings and compatible optional packs are preserved. Keep the old folder until your saves are checked. Repair retains the previous extracted installation and needs additional disk space; it only reads your ISO.

Optional Spanish

After Xbox setup, select Install Spanish and choose your own European PAL PS2 Darkwatch ISO, SLES-53564, then choose Español. The PS2 disc supplements the required Xbox installation. Direct play uses the same language choice.

The import supplies 1,481 dialogue recordings; 63 missing/silent entries retain Xbox audio. Matched Spanish movies use the PS2 stereo mix; unmatched movies, music and extras stay original. English keeps the Xbox movie mix. Older Spanish ZIPs are no longer accepted. If an older language installation needs repair, import the supported PS2 ISO or select English; existing files remain intact until replacement succeeds.

Experimental Linux / Proton

Extract Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.6.1-Linux-Proton-Experimental.tar.gz into a writable folder. Use native Linux Steam, Proton Experimental and working Vulkan drivers. Live Linux testing is still needed.

1. Add windows/payload/python/python.exe as a Non-Steam Game. Set Start In to the extracted package folder, in quotes. Force Proton Experimental under Compatibility.

2. Put your Xbox ISO/XISO in that folder. For game.iso, use Launch Options:

   -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --import-iso "game.iso"
   

3. Click Play and wait for completion. Change the same shortcut's Launch Options to:

   -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --play
   

For updates, copy old GameData/ beside the new windows/ folder, update the existing shortcut's paths, repeat the import command, then restore --play. Use real files/folders for the package and GameData, not symlinks.

For Spanish, place your supported PS2 ISO in the package folder and temporarily use:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --install-spanish "Darkwatch-PS2.iso"

Then use -B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --language to choose the language and restore --play. Close the game before setup or language changes.

Optional HD textures

Reuse the 0.6 HD pack—no new HD download is needed. Earlier 0.4/0.5 packs also work, with less character coverage. The complete pack is on the 0.6 release page.

Keep all five Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.6-HD-Textures.zip.001 through .005 files together with their original names. Choose Install HD Textures and select .zip.001. The installer reads the remaining parts automatically. Do not extract individual parts; parts.json is unnecessary. Enable Graphics → HD Textures → Apply afterward.

On Linux, place all five parts in the package folder and temporarily use:

-B "linux/run_backend.py" --interactive --install-hd-textures "Darkwatch-Darker-Edition-0.6-HD-Textures.zip.001"

Restore --play afterward. Incomplete downloads or browser-added suffixes such as (1) prevent the parts from matching.

For surround speakers, configure the actual speaker layout in Windows and select Surround in Audio. For spatial headphones, enable Windows spatial audio and restart the game before selecting Surround.

Powered by XboxXBERecomp by TGP482. Supply your own discs. Original disc assets, generated game source and the Microsoft XDK are not included. Normal play has no test timer or diagnostic tracing; small failure reports remain available.