v0.5.2 — native joystick configurator

Adds JeremyAnsel's native (no-.NET) XwaJoystickConfig, launched from the launcher's built-in Joystick Configurator button; replaces the stock 32-bit .NET tool that rendered black on plain wine. Other binaries unchanged from v0.5.1.

v0.5.1 — reinstall reuses game dir + Steam-dir guard

Installer-logic fix (binaries byte-identical to v0.5.0):

• --reinstall / --remove now reuse the game dir recorded at install (per variant), so a machine with both a GOG and a Steam install reuses the right one — no need to re-pass --game-dir.
• The standalone installer (install-xwau-linux.sh) refuses a Steam-library path and points to install-xwau-steam.sh, instead of silently adopting a Steam install.

Upgrading from v0.4.x/v0.5.0: Steam users can just run ./install-xwau-steam.sh --reinstall; GOG users pass --game-dir once (it is then remembered).

v0.5.0 — MF cutscene fix (main-window playback) + native no-.NET launcher

Cutscenes: the Media-Foundation TgSmush now plays the mp4 in the main game window (no popup), fixing the ~1 fps stall on wine/GNOME while keeping the HD concourse working — verified on GOG and Steam.

Launcher: ships JeremyAnsel's native (no-.NET) XWA launcher, which renders correctly on plain wine. GOG now launches through the launcher like Steam.

Upgrading from v0.4.x: download this release, cd into it, and run ./install-xwau-linux.sh --reinstall (or the Steam script) — it reuses your recorded XWAU zips and settings.

v0.4.4 — keep config.cfg across reinstall; quiet the GNOME not-responding popup

Quality-of-life fixes on top of v0.4.3.

• config.cfg is preserved across reinstalls. The XWAU payload rewrites config.cfg on every (re)install (resetting your current pilot, keybinds, audio, graphics). The installer now snapshots config.cfg before install and restores it afterward, so your settings — including which pilot is active — survive an upgrade/reinstall. (Interim workaround; upstream fix pending.)
• No more "X-Wing Alliance is not responding" popup on first launch. The first launch compiles the DXVK shader cache and briefly makes the window unresponsive; the installer now silences GNOME's Wait/Force-Quit dialog just for the duration of the game (no extra dependency — no gamescope needed).

Get it (no git needed)

curl -fL https://github.com/psoetens/xwau-linux/archive/refs/tags/v0.4.4.tar.gz | tar xz
cd xwau-linux-0.4.4

Prebuilt Windows binaries unchanged from v0.3.0–v0.4.3 (carried forward so this tag is self-contained).

v0.4.3 — robust binary download

Small robustness fix on top of v0.4.2.

• xwau_install_binaries now downloads with curl -fL and removes any partial file + aborts on failure. Previously a transient HTTP error could save an error page (e.g. a 9-byte "Not Found") as the binary, and the cache guard would then keep reusing that garbage — surfacing as "SHA256SUMS.txt: no properly formatted checksum lines found". Now a failed download fails loudly and leaves nothing behind.
• Test hardening only (no behavior change): test_steam_closed_guard now reliably creates its fake process.

Get it (no git needed)

curl -fL https://github.com/psoetens/xwau-linux/archive/refs/tags/v0.4.3.tar.gz | tar xz
cd xwau-linux-0.4.3

Prebuilt Windows binaries unchanged from v0.3.0–v0.4.2 (carried forward so this tag is self-contained).

v0.4.2 — clean uninstall + Steam-closed install

Refinements to the install lifecycle from v0.4.1.

Changes

• --remove is now a full clean uninstall: it restores the vanilla game and deletes the <game-dir>.vanilla backup (no leftover restore point). --reinstall still keeps/rebuilds that backup.
• Steam install requires Steam closed: install / reinstall / --remove now abort up front if Steam is running, instead of doing a partial install and asking you to re-run with --steam-config-only. Pass --no-steam-config to install without touching Steam's config (and run with Steam open).
• Pilots + user configs are still preserved across --reinstall (from v0.4.1).

Get it (no git needed)

curl -fL https://github.com/psoetens/xwau-linux/archive/refs/tags/v0.4.2.tar.gz | tar xz
cd xwau-linux-0.4.2

Prebuilt Windows binaries unchanged from v0.3.0/v0.4.1 (carried forward so this tag is self-contained).

v0.4.1 — Steam auto-prefix, remove/reinstall (preserves pilots + configs), payload cleanup

Install lifecycle management for the standalone + Steam installers.

Highlights

• Steam prefix auto-created: the Steam installer builds the Proton prefix itself (via the Steam Linux Runtime, Steam closed) — no manual "launch once, then re-run". Manual fallback if needed.
• --remove: restores the original (vanilla) game and, on Steam, clears the compat tool + launch options.
• --reinstall: --remove then reinstall using the version in the directory you run it from — the upgrade path. Reuses the ~6.6 GB XWAU zip paths + options recorded in <game-dir>/.xwau-install.json.
• Your pilots and settings are preserved across --remove/--reinstall: pilots (UserData/XWAU/Pilot/) and all config files are kept; only Hooks.ini is regenerated (mod-managed), and resolution/preset/ratio come back from the recorded options.
• Disk hygiene: the ~6.6 GB extracted payload scratch is deleted after a successful install (XWAU_KEEP_PAYLOADS=1 to keep).

Get it (no git needed)

curl -fL https://github.com/psoetens/xwau-linux/archive/refs/tags/v0.4.1.tar.gz | tar xz
cd xwau-linux-0.4.1

Upgrading from v0.3.0: the first --reinstall needs --xwau-full/--xwau-upd passed once (v0.3.0 installs predate the manifest); after that they're recorded.

Prebuilt Windows binaries are unchanged from v0.3.0 (carried forward so this tag is self-contained).

v0.3.0 — fail-early codec preflight + cross-distro multilib guidance

Standalone (GOG) HD cutscenes need a slice of the host's 32-bit userland that GE-Proton's codecs don't ship. This release makes that a fast, up-front stop instead of silent black cutscenes after a long install.

Highlights

• Fail-early 32-bit codec preflight (standalone installer): checks the required 32-bit libraries before any download and, if the host is missing them, prints the exact apt/dnf/pacman one-liner and stops. Pass --skip-codec-check to install anyway (audio-only cutscenes).
• Cross-distro coverage: package lists validated in Fedora 44, Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 13, and Arch containers; ostree/Bazzite-aware guidance.
• Fixes Fedora black cutscenes: stages libbz2.so.1.0 from Fedora's libbz2.so.1 (soname mismatch) and libvpx.so.6 (no distro ships that soname anymore).
• Docs: new "Get the installer" section so non-git users can download a tarball directly.

Get it (no git needed)

curl -fL https://github.com/psoetens/xwau-linux/archive/refs/tags/v0.3.0.tar.gz | tar xz
cd xwau-linux-0.3.0

Prebuilt Windows binaries are unchanged from v0.2.0 (carried forward here so this tag is self-contained).

v0.2.0 — win64 architecture (Steam/Proton + Kron4ek)

win64 architecture — Steam/Proton + Kron4ek standalone.

The 32-bit game runs under WoW64 in a win64 wine prefix: the .NET hooks run
in-process (no sidecar), full-res skins fit, and HD concourse + HD video both
render. No 2 GB VA ceiling, no mission-entry memory-pressure crash.

Binaries (game-verified) for the win64 installers:

• ddraw_effects.dll — force-shim ddraw (HD concourse on wine-11)
• TGSMUSH.DLL — Media Foundation video backend
• hook_patcher.dll — native (unmanaged) reimplementation (lets the game run under wine-mono)
• hook_32bpp_net.dll / hook_concourse_net.dll — native CLR-hosting hook shims (+ their *_bridge.dll)

Install (see the win64 branch README):

• Steam users: install-xwau-steam.sh — uses Steam's Proton (≥ wine-11).
• Standalone: install-xwau-linux.sh — bundles Kron4ek wine-11 + wine-mono + a GE-Proton donor.

Pre-release: the binaries are game-verified, but the installers' end-to-end
fresh-install path is still being validated.

Verify downloads against SHA256SUMS.txt.

v0.1.0 — first public Linux binaries (game-verified)

Prebuilt, game-verified Linux binaries for the XWAU 2025 port (2026-06-07).

Every binary here was verified in-game on the reference setup (GE-Proton8-26
wine, win32 prefix with .NET 4.8, DXVK): HD intro + skip, HD concourse,
briefing, full mission, simulator.

File	Built from	Goes to
ddraw_effects.dll	xwa_ddraw_d3d11 PR #126 branch @ 57d2de5d (upstream master + shim)	game dir (replaces XWAU's; back the original up)
TGSMUSH.DLL	xwa_TgSmush PR #4 content (= linux-wine-fixes @ fc13194)	game dir (replaces XWAU's; back the original up)
Xwa32bppPlayer32.exe	player/ @ this repo	game dir (also name-swapped over Xwa32bppPlayer.exe; keep the x64 original)
Xwa32bppPlayerNet32.dll	player/cs/ @ this repo	game dir
hook_keyboard_bg.dll	hook-keyboard-bg/ @ this repo	game dir — Linux only, never install on Windows

Required config keys (full installer + guide in progress):
ddraw.cfg: HDConcourseEnabled=1, TgSmushSwapchainPresentEnabled=1,
TextFontFamily=DejaVu Sans; Hooks.ini: HDConcourseTextFont=Liberation Mono, [hook_32bpp] EnableSideProcess=1; TGSmush.cfg: ForceBackend=mf,
MFD3DPresent=1; Xwa32bppPlayer32.cfg: SkinsSizeThreshold=200000000.
Launcher: tools/xwa-ge-launch2.sh
(adjust paths), Steam launch options bash -c 'exec /path/to/xwa-ge-launch2.sh' %command%.

SHA256SUMS.txt covers all binaries. On Windows these DLLs are inert-by-design
(wine detection + default-off config keys) — but they are built for and tested
on Linux only; Windows users should stay on the official XWAU builds.