This guide provides instructions for installing and setting up the "Sonic Unleashed Recompiled" fan project (UWP port by WorleyDL) on an Xbox Series S/X console running in Developer Mode. It also covers how to set up mods using HedgeModManager.
CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: E:\ Drive Letter
- This UWP port absolutely requires that your external USB drive is assigned the drive letter
E: when connected to your Windows PC during the setup process (specifically for preparing game data and mods).
- If Windows assigns a different letter (like
D:, F:, etc.), the game data and mods will not be found by the UWP application on Xbox.
- Instructions on how to check and potentially change the drive letter are included in Part 1.
Other Important Notes:
- This is a fan-made project based on the original Sonic Unleashed and is not an official SEGA product.
- This UWP port is by WorleyDL. Please report UWP-specific issues to their repository, NOT the official Hedge-Dev or original Sonic Unleashed Recompiled teams.
- This guide is based on setup processes demonstrated in videos and community guides. Ensure you download the correct files.
- External USB Drive REQUIRED: This port requires an External USB Drive for storing the main game data files and mods.
- This port is confirmed to work on Xbox Series X|S only. It will not work on Xbox One consoles.
Before you begin, ensure the following conditions are met:
- Xbox Developer Mode Activated: Your Xbox Series S/X must be successfully set up and running in Developer Mode.
- Remote Access Enabled: Remote Access must be enabled and configured within the Xbox Dev Home application.
- External USB Drive: A USB drive formatted as NTFS with full read/write permissions set for UWP applications. This drive must appear as drive
E: when connected to your Windows PC.
- PC: A Windows PC for downloading files, running the PC installer, using HedgeModManager, and accessing the Xbox Dev Portal.
- Sonic Unleashed Game Files: You need your own copy (dump) of the Xbox 360 version of Sonic Unleashed (ISO or extracted folder format), the latest Title Update, and optionally, any DLCs.
- Sonic Unleashed Recompiled PC Installer: The Windows version installer is needed to generate game data files.
- Sonic Unleashed Recompiled UWP App: The UWP application package (
.msixbundle) and dependency (.appx) for installation on the Xbox.
Need help with prerequisites? See the Xbox Dev Mode Setup guide for detailed instructions on activating Dev Mode, setting up Remote Access, and preparing a USB drive (including formatting and permissions, but double-check the drive letter requirement below).
This step must be done on your PC, and the USB drive must be assigned the letter E:.
- Connect USB Drive: Plug your prepared (NTFS, permissions set) USB drive into your Windows PC.
- Check Drive Letter: Open File Explorer (
This PC). Note the drive letter assigned to your USB drive.
- If Not E:, Attempt to Change: If the drive letter is not
E:, you must attempt to change it. Warning: Changing drive letters can sometimes affect programs that expect a drive at a specific letter. Proceed with caution.
- Open Disk Management:
- Right-click the Windows Start button and select "Disk Management".
- Alternatively, press
Win + R, type diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
- Identify USB Drive: Locate your USB drive in the list of disks and partitions. It will likely show as "Removable". Be absolutely sure you have identified the correct drive based on its size and label.
- Change Drive Letter:
- Right-click on the main partition of your USB drive (the large block representing the storage).
- Select "Change Drive Letter and Paths...".
- Click the "Change..." button.
- Select the radio button for "Assign the following drive letter:".
- From the dropdown menu, select E.
- Click "OK".
- If E: is Taken: If
E: is already in use by another drive (internal or external), you will first need to change that drive's letter to something else (like G:, H:, etc.) using the same process, then change your USB drive's letter to E:.
- Confirm Warning: Windows may warn you that changing the drive letter might cause programs to stop working. Click "Yes" to proceed.
- Verify: Close Disk Management and check File Explorer again to confirm your USB drive is now assigned the letter
E:.
¶ 1.2. Prepare Installer and Game Files on E:\ Drive
(Assuming your USB drive is now successfully assigned as E:)
- Download PC Installer: Go to the official Sonic Unleashed Recompiled GitHub releases page: https://github.com/hedge-dev/UnleashedRecompiled/releases
- Download Windows Zip: Download the
UnleashedRecompiled-Windows.zip file.
- Extract Installer: Extract the
.zip file to a temporary location on your PC.
- Create
unleashed Folder on USB: On your E:\ drive (your USB drive), create a new folder named exactly unleashed (Path: E:\unleashed).
- Move Installer Contents to USB: Copy all contents from the extracted
UnleashedRecompiled-Windows folder into the E:\unleashed folder.
- Prepare Game Source Files on USB:
- Inside the
E:\unleashed folder, create a subfolder named my sonic files.
- Copy your Sonic Unleashed game files (ISO or extracted folder), Title Update, and DLCs into
E:\unleashed\my sonic files.
- Run PC Installer (from USB):
- Navigate to
E:\unleashed.
- Run
UnleashedRecompiled.exe from the USB drive.
- Select language, click "Next", click "Next".
- Add Game Sources (from USB):
- Game: Click "Add Files". Navigate to
E:\unleashed\my sonic files and select your game file (.iso or default.xex). Click "Open".
- Update: Click "Update" tab > "Add Files". Navigate to
E:\unleashed\my sonic files and select your Title Update. Click "Open".
- DLC (Optional): Click "DLC" tab > "Add Files". Select all DLC files in
E:\unleashed\my sonic files. Click "Open". Or click "Skip".
- Install Files (to USB): Click "Next". Click "Next" again. The installer will generate game data folders (
game, update, etc.) inside E:\unleashed. Wait for completion.
- Finish Installation: Click "Next", then "Exit". Your
E:\unleashed folder now contains the necessary generated game data. (You can delete my sonic files now if desired).
Install the UWP app onto the Xbox's internal storage.
- Download UWP Files: Get the latest
.msixbundle and .appx dependency from the UWP port's GitHub releases page.
- Access Dev Portal: Connect to your Xbox Device Portal.
- Navigate to "Add": Go to "My games & apps" > "Add".
- Upload MSIXBUNDLE: Upload the
.msixbundle file.
- Upload Dependency: Click "Next". Upload the
.appx dependency file.
- Start Installation: Click "Start", wait for completion, click "Done".
- Configure on Xbox:
- On Xbox Dev Home, find the game.
- Press "View" button > "View details".
- Change "App type" to "Game".
- (Recommended) Restart Console.
- Connect USB Drive: Ensure your external USB drive, now assigned as
E: on your PC during setup, is plugged into your Xbox before launching.
- Launch: Go to the Xbox dashboard > "My games & apps" > "Games", find "Sonic Unleashed Recompiled", and launch it.
The UWP app will look for its data in the unleashed folder on the connected external drive, expecting it to correspond to the E:\ path established during PC setup.
Mods are managed on PC using HedgeModManager, configured to read/write to the E:\unleashed structure on your USB drive.
- Download: Get the latest
.exe from the HedgeModManager GitHub Release Page.
- Create
mods Folder: On your USB drive (E:\), navigate into the unleashed folder. Create a subfolder named mods (Path: E:\unleashed\mods).
- Delete
ModsDB.ini: If copying from a PC setup, delete ModsDB.ini inside E:\unleashed\mods.
- Add Mods: Place your mod files/folders inside
E:\unleashed\mods.
- Run HMM: Launch
HedgeModManager.exe on your PC (with the USB drive connected as E:).
- Configure Paths (Crucial):
- Go to the "Settings" tab.
- Ensure the "Install Directory" points to
E:\unleashed.
- Ensure the "Mods Directory" points to
E:\unleashed\mods.
- Manage Mods: Go to the "Mods" tab. Enable desired mods. Set priority.
- Save: Click "Save". HMM writes to
E:\unleashed\mods\ModsDB.ini.
- Connect USB to Xbox: Eject USB from PC, connect to Xbox.
- Launch Game: Launch Sonic Unleashed Recompiled UWP. It should load mods based on the
ModsDB.ini found at the expected E:\unleashed\mods path structure.
Q: Game doesn't launch or crashes / Mods aren't working.
A:
- DRIVE LETTER E:? Confirm your USB drive was absolutely assigned E: during the PC setup steps (Part 1). This is the most likely cause if data isn't found. Re-check Part 1.1.
- USB Connected? Ensure the USB drive is connected to the Xbox before launching.
- HMM Paths Correct? Double-check HedgeModManager's "Install Directory" (
E:\unleashed) and "Mods Directory" (E:\unleashed\mods) in Settings. Click Save after changes.
- Game Data Generation: Verify the PC installer fully generated the
game, update, etc., folders inside E:\unleashed.
- USB Permissions: Re-verify NTFS format and "ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES" full control permissions.
- UWP Installation: Ensure both the
.msixbundle and .appx dependency installed correctly.
- Series X|S Only: Confirm you are not using an Xbox One.
- Try Without Mods: Disable mods in HMM (Save) and test.
Disclaimer: This UWP port is by WorleyDL. Report UWP-specific issues to them, not Hedge-Dev or HedgeModManager developers.