Android owners, pay attention! A new version of Winlator has been released, enabling demanding PC games to be played on mobile

Developer Bruno (known as brunodev85) has released a new bugfix version of his popular tool Winlator 10.1, which allows Windows games and applications to run on Android devices. The new update fixes several issues from the previous version and adds further improvements that will be especially appreciated by owners of phones with new Qualcomm chips.

What is Winlator and why is it so exceptional?

For those encountering this tool for the first time: Winlator is a revolutionary application that combines Wine and Box86/64 technology to emulate Windows applications directly on Android. Unlike cloud services or PC streaming, everything runs directly on your device.

Thanks to the optimized Vortek graphics driver, Winlator can run demanding modern games like Cyberpunk 2077, GTA V, or Elden Ring on sufficiently powerful phones, albeit with lower graphics settings and frame rates. In addition to games, it also handles common Windows applications, including graphic editors or office suites. Winlator’s greatest strength lies in the fact that it does not require any special versions of applications – it works directly with standard Windows installation files.

Removed dgvoodoo component evokes mixed reactions

One of the main changes that has caused mixed reactions within the community is the removal of the dgvoodoo tool from the new version. According to user comments on Reddit, this step was taken because the original creator of dgvoodoo was not satisfied with its use within Winlator. For many users, this is bad news, as dgvoodoo ensured the smooth functioning of older games using outdated graphics APIs like DirectDraw, which modern systems no longer natively support.

“I’ll have to keep the older version, because that one finally allowed perfect playing of old games, such as titles from the Lego series,” states one user on Reddit. It is not yet clear whether dgvoodoo can be added to the new version manually.

Improved support for the latest processors

The update brings several significant improvements that will be especially appreciated by owners of phones with newer processors. AdrenoTools support has been added to the Vortek graphics driver, which is great news for users of devices with the Adreno 710 graphics chip who experienced graphical glitches with previous versions.

The developer also worked on compatibility fixes for Snapdragon 8 Elite processors. Users report that the new version can run games from the Elite series that previously did not work.

Further fixes and improvements

Among other improvements brought by the update are:

• Fix for application crashes when switching to full-screen mode
• Fix for issues with launching the Steam client
• Conversion of some parts of the application to native code for better performance
• Update of Box64 component to version 0.3.6
• Addition of a “performance” preset for an optimal experience

Update is available for download

The new Winlator 10.1 version is already available for download, but according to some comments, the download is slower due to high user interest. If you are a fan of PC games on mobile devices, you definitely shouldn’t miss this update.

For an optimal gaming experience, developers still recommend using a physical controller, although the new version also brings improvements for on-screen touch controls.

Do you use Winlator on your Android? What games do you run on it?