The Android PC games emulator, Winlator, has just received a massive 2.0 update, which brings a ton of improvements and new features to the experience.
Perhaps the biggest new feature is improved VirGL compatibility and performance. This may result in more games running on the emulator, and better.
Is Winlator 2.0 All Good?
However, bear in mind that this can break as much as it fixes. Games that previously worked may no longer with Winlator 2.0. It will require a bit of trial and error.
Other improvements include better input controls and audio, the latter via a superior plugin. There are also updates to the Mesa Turnip driver, Box64, and OBB Image. That’s now on version 2, but it’s optional.
What’s New?
In terms of additions, there’s the option to install a custom wine version. That’s pretty huge, and should also help with compatibility. It’s an experimental feature though, so it may not work as intended.
Finally, there’s a new advanced tab on container settings. I’m not sure what this does, but someone more technically-minded might be excited right now.
How Does the Community Feel About Winlator 2.0?
Judging from the comments on Reddit, 2.0 is a bit of a mixed bag so far. One user claimed that all of their games still work, and they’re happy about the custom wine version feature.
Multiple other users are reporting that all, or a few, of their games are no longer working. One reported DirectX errors as the cause of this.
Some users recommend that you reinstall your games after updating to Winlator 2.0, while others recommend that you create a new container. This hasn’t solved all of the issues, but it’s worth a try.
Where Can I Get It?
You can grab Winlator 2.0 from Github. Remember that this isn’t official software by Google or anyone affiliated with Android, so use it at your own risk.
Also, the update may not fix all of your issues with Winlator, and it may introduce entirely new issues. It may actually be worth holding off until many of these are addressed in a hotfix or two.
