kuraeow/ultratears

What is it?

Key features

• 01Builds a native Windows and Linux executable from the player's own game dump.
• 02Runs on Steam Deck via an AppImage added to Steam.
• 03Prepares shaders and textures at build time instead of during play.
• 04Launcher rebuilds only changed parts when a new version is released.
• 05Keeps save data in the userdata folder across updates.
• 06Ships with no game files, keys or firmware.

Use cases

• Playing Tears of the Kingdom natively on a Windows PC with your own legally obtained copy.
• Running the game on a Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.
• Studying how static recompilation can be applied to a commercial console game.

Quick start

1. 1

   Install Git and Python 3, then clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/kuraeow/ultratears.git
2. 2

   Enter the project folder

   cd ultratears
3. 3

   Run the setup with the path to your own extracted game dump

   python tools/setup.py --dump D:\path\to\dump
4. 4

   Start build\UltraTears Launcher.exe and click Play

Things to know

• !You must supply your own dump of Tears of the Kingdom version 1.4.3; no game files are included.
• !It needs about 40 GB of free disk space, 16 GB of RAM and 4 GB of video memory.
• !Linux requires kernel 6.7 or newer and glibc 2.34 or newer.
• !It is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo.

Topics

FAQ

What is ultratears?

Unofficial native Windows and Linux port of Tears of the Kingdom 1.4.3, built locally from your own extracted game dump. UltraTears builds a native version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (version 1.4.3) for Windows, Linux and the Steam Deck. It is not an emulator: the game's code is translated to native code ahead of time, and shaders and textures are prepared when the game is built rather than during play.

Is ultratears free to use? What license does it have?

ultratears is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.

Is ultratears still maintained?

Actively maintained. The last commit to ultratears was on Nov 7, 2026.

What can I use ultratears for?

Playing Tears of the Kingdom natively on a Windows PC with your own legally obtained copy. Running the game on a Steam Deck in Gaming Mode. Studying how static recompilation can be applied to a commercial console game.

How do I install ultratears?

Install Git and Python 3, then clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/kuraeow/ultratears.git Enter the project folder: cd ultratears Run the setup with the path to your own extracted game dump: python tools/setup.py --dump D:\path\to\dump Start build\UltraTears Launcher.exe and click Play

Where can I get ultratears?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/kuraeow/ultratears