The project NSMBU, based on New Super Mario Bros. U for PC, has advanced beyond experimental booting. Developer IrishBruse reports that version 0.2.0 can already run portions of stages 1-1 to 1-3, although performance is still low and the project remains far from a complete conversion of the Wii U game.
In NSMBU, the initial recompilation milestone appeared on October 9, 2026, with public code to load the game's executable. However, the official NSMBU Recomp README already describes advancements in version 0.2.0. Therefore, the headline of this news story no longer presents the project as restricted to the first boot.
NSMBU begins running stages in tests
According to the author, update 0.2.0 fixed a bug in the World 1-1 stage and allows progressing through the initial stages up to 1-3. However, these statements come from the project's documentation, and not from an independent analysis of gameplay, stability, or FPS.
Gameplay of the original edition of New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U. Source: The Mushroom Kingdom/Nintendo. Does not demonstrate the PC port.
The technical base was adapted from Zelda: Wind Waker HD Recomp. The Wii U PowerPC code is translated into C on the user's computer, while Cafe OS services and GX2 graphics receive native implementations. Thus, the approach differs from traditional execution within a Wii U emulator.
Additionally, Windows and Linux use Vulkan, while macOS utilizes Metal. This does not mean equivalent performance across all platforms. The README itself warns of reduced speed in early stages and limitations that are still present.
NSMBU is still in an experimental phase
NSMBU depends on legitimate files from New Super Mario Bros. U, North American edition. The installer recognizes copies in WUX/WUD, WUA files, or extracted folders with code, content, and meta directories, according to the documentation. Therefore, downloads from the repository do not include the commercial game.
Stage from the original Wii U edition, for visual context only. Source: The Mushroom Kingdom/Nintendo; not a capture of the recompilation.
The installation translates and compiles the executable red-pro2.rpx locally. In turn, developer documentation records unresolved symbols and functions still being implemented. As a result, the user should not expect the entire campaign to work, even after an initial section manages to open.
A settings menu provides controls, resolutions, and other options. However, the presence of an FPS choice in the menu does not prove that the game achieves that performance. Features under development must be evaluated individually.
What exists for Windows, Linux, and macOS?
The releases repository presents installer and runtime packages for Windows x64, Linux x64 and ARM64, and macOS on Apple Silicon. Even so, these are tools that prepare the user's legal copy, not distributions of the full game.
On Windows, the initial file is NSMBU.exe; on Linux, nsmbu-launcher; and on macOS, NSMBU.app. The first run requests the source of the legitimate files. Additionally, WUX/WUD discs require keys from the game itself and from the user's console.
Pending downloads: user-friendly buttons for all platforms will be added after route validation. A previous write operation for the Windows route received a pre-tool security refusal and was not repeated. This text remains an editorial draft, with no button leading to an unverified package.
Why does recompilation draw attention?
Recompilation opens another front to preserve games originally released on the Wii U. On our site, the Zelda: Wind Waker HD for PC is an example of an initiative related by its technical base. However, IrishBruse's work requires specific adaptations for New Super Mario Bros. U.
Historical screenshot of the Wii U game. Source: The Mushroom Kingdom/Nintendo. Does not attest to port performance.
On the other hand, the Super Mario Sunshine port is a distinct project and does not prove the operation of this Wii U prototype. Historical screenshots illustrating the article must include this caveat in the captions.
Finally, the project is in open development. Version 0.2.0 reports progress in early stages, but there is still no proof of a full playable campaign, fixes for all menus, or stable performance on standard hardware.
Sources: Official project README; technical documentation; official releases.
