# OpenShao

> OpenShao is a native Windows and Linux port of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, made by statically recompiling the original Xbox game.

Web page: https://emulationking.com/microsoft/xbox/games/mortalkombatshaolinmonks/ports/openshao/
Page updated: 2026-11-02

- Developer: OAleex
- Port type: Recompilation (A tool translated the game's original machine code into C automatically, which was then built as a native PC program.)
- Game: [Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks](https://emulationking.com/microsoft/xbox/games/mortalkombatshaolinmonks/index.md)
- AI use: AI-assisted. The project says: “Development uses AI assistance for executable analysis, code, debugging, tests, build scripts and documentation.”
- Source code: /opt/buildhome/repo/content/microsoft/xbox/games/mortalkombatshaolinmonks/ports/openshao/index.md
- Runs on: Windows, Linux

What you need: Your own USA or European Xbox copy of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, as an ISO, XISO, ZIP, extracted folder or `default.xbe`. Windows 10 (1903+) or Linux with glibc 2.38+, an x64 processor with SSE4.2 and POPCNT, and a Direct3D 12 or Vulkan 1.2 graphics card; on Linux, the system `libcurl`.

OpenShao is a native PC port of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Midway's 2005 action game, made by statically recompiling the original Xbox version. It runs on Windows with Direct3D 12 by default or Vulkan, and on Linux with Vulkan, and does not include the game.

Its launcher picks the game, mods and folders and installs updates. Inside the game, a settings menu called Konfigure Recompilation covers display, graphics, controls, audio and language, and a pause menu adds options and a way back to the desktop. The game can be 16:9, 16:10, 21:9, 32:9 or the window's own shape, with the original 4:3 as the default, at a render scale from 25% to 400%, with anisotropic filtering and V-Sync.

Every action can be bound to a primary and an alternate key, and any controller can find its way around the menus and remap the controls. The developer says AI assists the development.

## How to set it up

1. Download the release for your system and extract it to a folder.
2. Open OpenShao and choose your game: an ISO, XISO, ZIP, extracted folder or `default.xbe`. It reads the game where it is, so keep it in place.
3. Select Play.
4. The launcher checks for a new version when it opens; Update installs it and keeps saves, settings and mods.

## Latest builds

Download these from the web page: https://emulationking.com/microsoft/xbox/games/mortalkombatshaolinmonks/ports/openshao/#download

- for Windows: 0.4.1 (2026-10-30)
- for Linux: 0.4.1 (2026-10-30)