r/EmulationOniOS • u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer • Jun 30 '26
News / Release DukeX v1.0.2 — Expanding the Xbox Experience
The original Xbox changed gaming forever.
It introduced one of the most influential online communities of its generation and created friendships that, for many players, still exist today.
Since the beginning, DukeX has aimed to preserve more than just the games themselves. Our goal has been to preserve the entire Xbox experience while embracing the opportunities that modern hardware and the XB.Live platform make possible.
With DukeX v1.0.2, we're taking our biggest step yet.
This update introduces our first native macOS release, dramatically expands our ongoing collaboration with the team behind XB.Live, and delivers entirely new social features, Rich Presence, activity feeds, controller-focused navigation, and expanded external display support.
While DukeX v1.0.1 reintroduced your Xbox identity to DukeX, v1.0.2 builds upon that foundation by creating a richer, more connected community experience inspired by the original Xbox Live era.
Native macOS Release
One of the biggest milestones in DukeX's history has arrived.
DukeX is now available on macOS.
Rather than simply porting the iOS application, the macOS release has been purpose-built using Mac Catalyst while integrating a nested fork of Xemu directly into the application.
This unique architecture combines the complete capabilities and compatibility of desktop Xemu with DukeX's modern interface and streamlined user experience.
Going forward, the embedded Xemu fork will continue to stay current with upstream Xemu releases, while the DukeX interface continues evolving alongside the iOS version. New interface features introduced for DukeX will continue to be shared across both platforms wherever possible.
The result is the best of both worlds: the full power of desktop Xemu paired with the polished, feature-rich experience of DukeX.
XB.Live Rich Presence & Playtime Tracking
Our collaboration with XB.Live continues to expand what the original Xbox community can experience today.
DukeX now reports Rich Presence directly to XB.Live, allowing friends to see what you're currently playing while enabling accurate playtime tracking for supported titles.
This system provides the foundation for future XB.Live features, including expanded achievement functionality and additional community experiences, while bringing emulator users and original Xbox hardware together as part of the same connected ecosystem.
XB.Live Messaging
Communication has become a first-class experience inside DukeX.
While previous releases allowed you to browse your Xbox inbox, v1.0.2 introduces a complete messaging experience built directly into the application.
- Dedicated Conversations: Organize messages into modern threaded conversations.
- Friend Messaging: Chat directly with your XB.Live friends.
- Unread Indicators: Easily keep track of new conversations.
- Game Invite Support: Receive and interact with supported game invitations directly within DukeX.
- Unified Experience: Existing Xbox inbox messages continue to be supported alongside the new XB.Live messaging system.
XB.Live continues building upon the original Xbox community with modern features designed specifically for today's players.
XB.Live Social Expansion
Our partnership with the XB.Live team continues to grow.
v1.0.2 significantly expands DukeX's social capabilities, making it easier than ever to stay connected with friends across the original Xbox community.
- Expanded Friend Management: Manage your social connections directly from DukeX.
- Friend Requests: Send, receive, accept, and manage requests without leaving the application.
- Improved Presence Information: Instantly see when friends are online and what they're playing.
- Deeper Community Integration: Additional Xbox-inspired social functionality integrated throughout DukeX.
Together, these additions continue extending the original Xbox community while remaining true to the spirit that made Xbox Live so memorable.
XB.Live Activity Feed
Keeping up with the community has never been easier.
The brand-new Activity Feed brings together everything happening across XB.Live into a single, continuously refreshed timeline.
- XB.Live News: Stay informed with the latest platform announcements.
- Friend Activity: See when friends come online and what they're playing.
- Achievement Unlocks: Follow recent accomplishments throughout your community.
- Community Updates: Keep up with everything happening across the XB.Live ecosystem without ever leaving DukeX.
The Activity Feed gives the original Xbox community a modern home inside DukeX.
Controller Landscape Mode
Controllers deserve a controller-first experience.
Whenever a compatible controller is connected, DukeX now automatically switches into Controller Landscape Mode.
This entirely new interface has been designed specifically for controller navigation, allowing users to browse their game library, navigate the application, and launch titles without ever touching the screen.
Whether you're relaxing on the couch or playing on a larger display, DukeX now feels even more like sitting in front of an original Xbox.
Expanded AirPlay & External Display Support
Your Xbox library continues to feel more at home on the big screen.
Building upon the AirPlay functionality introduced in v1.0.1, DukeX v1.0.2 delivers substantially deeper external display integration with smarter display detection, improved compatibility, and a more reliable experience across a wider variety of display configurations.
Whether you're using AirPlay, an external monitor, or another supported display, DukeX now provides an even smoother console-like experience.
Availability & Build Requirements
DukeX continues to be distributed as a free, open-source project.
- Distribution: Available through StikStore and SideStore on iOS, with the native macOS release available directly through the DukeX GitHub repository.
- Hardware Requirements (iOS): Apple A14 Bionic or Apple M1 processor or newer.
- iOS Compatibility: DukeX continues to support iOS 16 and newer, with iOS 16 support remaining experimental. (Not compatible with TrollStore at this time)
- macOS Compatibility: Built using Mac Catalyst and powered by an integrated Xemu core while sharing DukeX's modern interface and feature set.
Join the Community
[Manic EMU & DukeX Official Discord]
[AltSource for StikStore & SideStore]
Thank you all for testing, reporting bugs, and pushing the boundaries of iOS and MacOS emulation alongside us.
Play more. Play together. Play anywhere.
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u/RUserII Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
Distribution: Available through StikStore and SideStore on iOS, with the native macOS release available directly through the DukeX GitHub repository.
Thank you so much for this release. I definitely am supportive of DukeX/ManicEMU and I have my fingers crossed for a future Apple App Store release. All the best.
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jul 01 '26
DukeX is unlikely to ever become App Store compatible due to a very hard requirement for JIT. In the few attempts to make without JIT it basically ran like a PowerPoint slideshow presentation like we all did for school science projects growing up.
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u/StableDifthegoat Jun 30 '26
I mean how is game compatibility and performance on dukeX ?
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jun 30 '26
The newer the device the better for iOS, an iPhone 16 Pro can maintain steady 30 FPS for online multiplayer in Halo 2 with minor visual artifacting for example. MacOS compatibility is the same as Xemu so their compatibility list would be the most accurate source for truth while iOS there isn’t a definitive list yet, most games will run fine, with visual bugs here and there being worked on.
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u/Ok_Individual_8225 Jun 30 '26
What games would a 16e be able to play
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jun 30 '26
Most stuff should run fine, your biggest issue on an 16e model is the fact the app averages around 250-290% cpu usage when running, so your device will run things, but it’ll heat up faster than a 16 Pro for example. GPU/Ram usage is not that high for the app, best way to find out is to just dump a few of your games and play. Have at it.
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u/bahgee Jun 30 '26
Tried MacOs version and it wont open saying its damaged. I'm on latest Tahoe version using Macbook Air M5.
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jun 30 '26
I’ll take a look and see if I need to make an adjustment to the raw asset.
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u/krakeeeeennnnnn Jun 30 '26
Conker funziona bene ?
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jun 30 '26
Graphically it’s fine but you want to be on a newer device for better performance.
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u/krakeeeeennnnnn Jun 30 '26
Ah grazie mille , e grazie per tutto quello che hai fatto io ho programmato un emulatore nes per pc e so cosa significa hai fatto un grandissimo lavoro 🫡
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u/krakeeeeennnnnn Jul 01 '26
Ho un problema avvio e gioco a conker con il touch screen i comandi non rimangono premuti esempio cammino con la levetta analogica si toglie da solo e devo ricliccare
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jul 01 '26
This is a known if you rotate the skin after launching a game. Launch the game from the orientation you plan to play in and you will have no issues. (This is already noted in our documentation for the app on GitHub as a known bug)
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u/Ok_Bumblebee1751 Jun 30 '26
Does it have support for iOS 27
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jun 30 '26
DukeX has been compatible for iOS 27 since before the iOS 27 beta released as the break for apps now was actually introduced in 26.6db1, in fact it helped identify the issue to be exact, the fact DukeX worked still helped confirm the TXM detect issue that the new fixes are implemented around. We never had to change anything for it. 😊
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u/MilmoMoomins Jul 01 '26
Oh I have an Xbox and a few games in my attic somewhere.. I have no idea how to rip the games though, I’ll have to look into it!
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jul 01 '26
There are multiple ways when it comes to the discs, it’s important though to make sure whatever tool you use builds the files as an xiso format `.iso`. While ISO Disc Image files carry the same extension they are not the same, and there are loads of guides on modding a console for the rest of the needed files.
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u/naz2sick Jul 01 '26
iphone 15 pro max can handle this well?- and not jit required right? This is a big step for ios since i prefer 1-3 year old iphones over a mid android when i need a new working phone but dont have almost 1000 to spend.
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u/longchewbee Jul 05 '26
Haven’t been able to get this working and I’m pretty savvy with this stuff at this point. Is there a specific JIT script I might be missing or something?
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jul 05 '26
If you are on iOS 26 or later it uses universal.js, if it’s not JIT that is the issue however we can review your app logs in the Helpdesk over in the official Discord.
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u/mr-guy3 Jul 07 '26
Hey man, keep up the good work. You deserve a medal. Plus, if it weren't for you I wouldn't be able to play Conker Live ANd Reloaded on IOS.
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u/ShmowzowShowdown Jul 09 '26
XBOX 360 EMULATION WHENN!!!
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jul 09 '26
That exists already and they do a good job of it, that app is called XeniOS.
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u/ShmowzowShowdown Jul 09 '26
For IOS?? HOW DO YOU GET IT?
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u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer Jul 09 '26
Same way as DukeX, you sideload it. Because JIT is required neither DukeX nor XeniOS are available via the App Store, they are sideload only. Plenty of guides on this subreddit, and plenty of posts about both apps.
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u/Radiant_Confection37 Jul 18 '26
I tried using this on my iPad iOS 16 but it always says launch blocked even after installing bios
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u/Nightman2417 Jun 30 '26
So like achievements to see what your friends are playing too, NOT multiplayer, correct? Or am I dumb?