The latest release of Box64, a Linux user-space emulator that allows x86_64 binaries to run on ARM64 devices, brings major updates. Version v0.3.2 introduces significant performance improvements, enhanced compatibility, and new features, including the integration of Box32 for running 32-bit applications on 64-bit operating systems.
Key Highlights
Box64 v0.3.2 arrives with several optimizations and new functionalities:
- Box32: It is now possible to run 32-bit programs on 64-bit systems, thanks to this new integrated functionality. Although disabled by default and still in development, Box32 already supports some games and applications with impressive performance.
- Native Flags: Native flags support has been added for ARM64, optimizing CPU-intensive tasks by aligning flags between ARM and x86 architectures. In benchmarks like 7zip, this improvement has shown speed increases of up to 30%.
- Improved Strong Memory Model: The memory model emulation has been revamped to optimize memory barrier insertion and improve performance, particularly in games that rely on these features, such as those developed in Unity3D.
- Extended Compatibility: More Vulkan extensions and new system calls have been added, broadening support for modern software.
Box64 vs. Other Emulation Solutions
Box64 continues to improve its performance and competes favorably with solutions like Rosetta, Apple’s emulation tool. In performance tests such as 7zip benchmarks, Box64 on Fedora outperformed Rosetta on Apple Silicon devices.
However, Box64 still faces challenges with software optimized for advanced CPU extensions like AVX.
The Future with Box32
Box32, a subcomponent of Box64, addresses the need to run 32-bit software on 64-bit systems, a growing requirement in the industry. Although still in its early stages, Box32 already allows some Linux and Windows games to run and promises expanded compatibility in the future.
Current limitations include the lack of Vulkan support and certain incompatibilities in Wine, which the development team aims to resolve in upcoming releases.
Impact and Contributions
In addition to performance enhancements, Box64 v0.3.2 introduces tools like “wrapperhelper,” an automated solution for generating library wrappers more quickly and accurately. This makes it easier for developers to contribute to expanding the emulator’s compatibility.
Downloads and Availability
The new versions of Box64 v0.3.2 and Box86 v0.3.8 are now available on GitHub. Users can take advantage of these updates to run x86 software on ARM64 devices more efficiently, especially older games and applications that were previously unsupported.
With these innovations, Box64 solidifies its position as a key tool for emulation in Linux environments, marking a significant step forward in compatibility and performance across mixed-architecture platforms.
