A new video has revealed that someone is now working on a static recompilation of the cancelled Xbox 360 / Xbox Live Arcade version of GoldenEye 007 — the remake that almost came out, then didn’t, because of licensing chaos.
It’s the version that was leaked five years ago — you can still play this version of GoldenEye on PC using the Xenia Xbox 360 emulator.
But this project essentially takes the emulation out of the equation. If it works, that unfinished remake could one day run properly on PC.
The GoldenEye that nearly existed
Back in the late 2000s, Rare and Microsoft were rebuilding GoldenEye 007 for Xbox Live Arcade. Same levels, same general layout — but with some key improvements that reflected the evolution of gaming since GoldenEye 007 came out on Nintendo 64 in 1997. These include:
- Cleaner visuals
- Higher frame rate
- Modern lighting
- Reworked controls
- Online play planned
Then it all fell apart, an event that seems to have been down to licencing conflicts, resulting in the project being quietly cancelled.
GoldenEye as a PC game
According to the video on the Video Game Esoterica YouTube channel, a developer has started a static “recmp” of that Xbox 360 build using a tool called Xenon Recomp.
To explain:L The Xbox 360 uses very different hardware from a modern PC. Static recompilation takes the original game code and translates it into something a PC can run natively. It’s not emulation — it’s more like rebuilding the game in a new form.
If this project reches completion finished, it could mean:
- The XBLA version running properly on PC
- Keyboard and mouse support
- Widescreen and performance upgrades
- Mods and community patches
Why this version is interesting
The N64 original is iconic, but it’s not always easy to go back to. Low frame rate, blurry visuals, and clunky aiming can be rough if you didn’t grow up with it.
The Xbox 360 remake already fixes a lot of that — even in its unfinished state. It looks cleaner, runs smoother, and feels closer to a modern shooter, just with some rough edges.
It would be amazing if this PC version could let fans finish what the original developers couldn’t.
But as yet, there is no release date, as it is relatively early days and projects like this can take weeks, months, or years, if they even reach completion. But if one thing has become clear over the past few years, it’s that GoldenEye 007, like Bond, refuses to die.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
