btvs-recomp
btvs-recomp is a native macOS port of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Metal rendering and optional HD textures.
- Type: PC port
- Game: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Runs on Windows
- By wiluss
- Latest release v0.1.0-alpha.6, 2026-11-09
- Source: https://github.com/wiluss/btvs-recomp
README
Buffy the Vampire Slayer · Original Xbox, 2002 · Apple Silicon
An independent recompilation that brings Buffy to macOS with native ARM64 and Metal rendering. Bring your own supported USA ISO. The game is built locally on your Mac.
Source alpha 0.1.0-alpha.6 · Unofficial fan project · No game download
Important
Made with substantial AI assistance
This experimental fan project uses Codex and local Qwen for analysis, code proposals, debugging and documentation. AI tools also helped prepare the branding and optional HD artwork, alongside manual refinements.
Changes are reviewed and tested, with gameplay feedback from the project owner. These checks do not establish complete campaign compatibility or long-session stability. No AI model or AI service is required to install or play.
Sunnydale, on your Mac
| Native rendering | Optional HD | Your controls |
|---|---|---|
| ARM64 + Metal, resolution scaling, 4K output and experimental 16:9. | Prepared campaign textures, HUD and reconstructed text, including manual refinements. | Keyboard and controller support, remapping, AZERTY/QWERTY presets. |
A five-language launcher follows a supported system language until you choose one. Persistent saves, fullscreen, VSync, an FPS overlay and optional arena access are included.
A glimpse of Sunnydale
The launcher — display options, controls, saves and optional packs in one place.
| Explore Sunnydale | Fight back |
|---|---|
 |  |
| A quiet moment on the trail. | A less quiet moment at school. |
One more night in Sunnydale.
These are unedited captures supplied by the project owner, showing the launcher and actual gameplay with optional HD content. The FPS overlay records individual scenes, not a benchmark or a guaranteed frame rate. Screenshot provenance →
Start playing
1. Get the source kit. Download the attached btvs-recomp-v0.1.0-alpha.6-source.zip and SHA256SUMS from Releases. Verify the checksum and extract the folder.
2. Build the launcher. You need an Apple Silicon Mac, Apple's Command Line Tools and the listed Homebrew packages. Follow the installation guide, or expand the commands below.
Build commands
From a terminal in the extracted source folder:
# Skip this if Apple's Command Line Tools are already installed:
xcode-select --install
# With Homebrew already installed in /opt/homebrew:
HOMEBREW_NO_AUTO_UPDATE=1 brew install python@3.12 cmake ninja pkgconf sdl3 libepoxy openssl@3
python3 tools/bootstrap_runtime.py
make launcher
open "build/btvs-recomp.app"
Keep the source folder intact: this alpha's launcher runs from it. No AI model or LM Studio installation is required.
3. Supply your ISO. Choose Set up from an ISO… in the launcher and select your own compatible USA image. Setup verifies Default.xbe and final.map, imports the files and compiles the game locally. It downloads development dependencies when needed, never the original game.
4. Play. Start from the main menu. After saving, choose Load Game to continue your adventure.
Add the HD treatment
Download the optional btvs-recomp-HD-v1.zip (about 676 MB), then choose Packs & skins → Install the HD pack…. The prepared add-on preserves our manual refinements; it needs no AI tools on your Mac. Textures and text can be switched off independently. HD installation and scope →
The source kit includes project branding and the four documentation screenshots above. Playable game content comes from your own ISO; the optional HD add-on is a separate download.
Before you enter the Hellmouth
- Mac: Apple Silicon, macOS 13 or later targeted. Tested on one Mac running macOS 27.2; other models and earlier OS versions still need validation.
- Game: your own supported USA ISO with the exact XBE/MAP hashes checked by setup. Other editions and modified executables are unsupported.
- Space: at least 35 GiB free before game setup; keep space available for builds and Xbox disk images. The optional HD add-on needs additional space.
This is an alpha. Audio can stutter, an intermittent audio crash remains unresolved, and performance varies with effects and resolution. The full campaign and long sessions have not been validated. Stock controller mapping was tested physically; custom mappings still need physical testing. See known issues.
The isolated ISO setup reached the menu, created the first save and loaded it into the first level's opening cutscene. Those checks used dummy audio and scripted controller input on the same Mac; they do not establish audio or cross-machine stability. Read the validation summary.
Keep your progress
Back up the whole private/profile/ folder, including title metadata and disk files. Do not delete it when updating. Setup preserves an existing installation; this alpha has no automatic upgrade or uninstall flow.
For help, read the user guide and reporting instructions. Never upload your ISO, game files, saves, disk images or complete development folder.
Built independently
Based on the pinned generic XboxRecomp macOS/Metal fork, with work by sp00nz and contributors. Prior research consulted BuffyNX; this project imports none of its title-specific code, symbols, seeds or overrides. Game-specific adaptations come from the identified user-supplied XBE and concordant MAP.
Development · Provenance · Roadmap · Release notes
Original project code is MIT licensed; third-party components keep their own licenses. The game-derived HD add-on, title-inspired branding and game imagery shown in the screenshots are not relicensed under MIT. Read the notices. This project is not affiliated with the original rights holders.