Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Recompiled

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 PC Port v0.6.1

v0.6.1 is a packaging and compatibility update. It reduces false-positive antivirus detections of the Windows update helper, trg-updater.exe, and changes nothing in the game itself. This is an unofficial fan-made port, not affiliated with or endorsed by the game’s makers or publishers.

No game files are included. You need your own supported Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package.

For everything new in v0.6.0 (HDR output, Smooth glow, the in-game Options menu and more), see the v0.6.0 release notes.

What changed

• Windows update helper: some antivirus engines reported heuristic (generic) detections for the v0.6.0 trg-updater.exe. The helper is now built from the same updater source with MSYS2 CLANG64 (clang and LLD), as a self-contained program that uses only Windows system libraries. This is the same model used by the project’s other ports.
• The helper’s debug symbols are kept outside the release ZIP. The shipped helper contains no debug information.
• The helper now writes a more detailed log of each update step, which helps diagnose an update that fails.
• Game executable: still built with its normal Visual Studio clang Release configuration. On Windows, the ReXGlue runtime and GPU plugin are the same files as in v0.6.0.
• No gameplay changes: gameplay, saves, settings, achievements, cheats, the launcher and the handling of game data are the same as in v0.6.0.
• Linux: the AppImage is rebuilt with the new version number and works the same as v0.6.0.

Antivirus checks

Both downloads were checked with VirusTotal before publication and had 0 detections at release preparation time:

• Windows ZIP: VirusTotal report
• Linux AppImage: VirusTotal report

VirusTotal results can change as antivirus engines update, and a clean scan is not a security guarantee. The change in this release reduces false-positive heuristic detections through conventional compiler and packaging practices.

Updating from v0.6.0

• From the launcher (Windows and Linux): the launcher checks the project’s GitHub releases once per start. When it finds v0.6.1, a banner appears in the header. Choose UPDATE NOW, then RESTART TO UPDATE.
  • The download is verified with its SHA-256 before anything is replaced.
  • Only the port’s own program files are replaced. The game folder, user_data, saves, settings, logs and caches are kept.
  • On Windows, the update is installed by the trg-updater.exe already in your v0.6.0 folder, which also installs the new helper. The Linux AppImage replaces its own file.
• By hand (Windows): close the game, then extract the ZIP’s contents into your existing folder and replace the files when asked. The program files sit at the top of the ZIP. Your game and user_data folders are kept.
• By hand (Linux): put the new AppImage in the same folder as the old one, so it finds the same game and user_data folders next to it.

Windows

• Requires Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64). HDR additionally needs Windows HDR turned on and a compatible display.
• Download: GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.6.1-windows-x64.zip. Extract it anywhere you can write to and run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe.
• The build is not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Linux / Steam Deck

• Linux and Steam Deck remain experimental.
• Download: GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2Recompiled-v0.6.1-x86_64.AppImage, a native Linux x86_64 build using Vulkan (not Proton, not Wine). Make it executable and run it. See docs/linux.md.
• Built on Ubuntu 20.04: systems with glibc 2.31 or newer are supported.

Required game version

• Your own package, this exact game version:

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