GoKawiilFan project recompiles Call of Duty: Black Ops II to native Apple Silicon
A developer released bo2-mac, an open-source tool that converts the x86 Windows executables of Black Ops II's campaign, Zombies, and multiplayer modes into native ARM64 code for Macs. The process uses Remill to lift the x86 machine code to LLVM IR, applies custom passes, and links the result with a hand-written Win32 runtime that renders Direct3D 11 through Metal, rather than relying on Wine or emulation. On an Apple M1, the campaign reportedly runs at 51-60 frames per second, with all missions loading through to the end credits, and about 150,000 functions translated across the three executables.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project demonstrates static binary recompilation as an alternative to translation layers like Wine or Rosetta for bringing legacy Windows games to Apple Silicon, potentially offering better performance since code runs natively rather than being emulated or interpreted. Because the tool builds a personal app from a user's own Steam copy rather than distributing game files, it sidesteps some copyright concerns, though the developer explicitly labels the release a beta with unproven edge cases. Its reception could influence whether similar static-recompilation efforts emerge for other aging PC titles.
- bo2-mac recompiles Black Ops II's x86 executables into native ARM64 code for macOS using Remill and LLVM, without Wine or JIT.
- On an Apple M1, the campaign runs at 51-60 fps with full mission-to-mission continuity through the end credits.
- The tool requires each user's own legitimate Steam copy and builds the app locally, rather than distributing pre-made executables.
Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad — If you're running Black Ops II natively on Apple Silicon, a solid keyboard makes the campaign and Zombies sessions feel right at home on macOS. The Magic Keyboard pairs seamlessly with your M1 Mac and keeps your setup clean and wireless while you game. A great companion accessory for any Mac gaming project like this one.
See Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: github.com, 2026-11-11
Published there as: “Show HN: Black Ops II statically recompiled to native ARM64 macOS”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.