The latest version of Box64, the user space emulator for Linux that enables x86_64 binaries to run on ARM64 devices, has arrived with significant updates. Version v0.3.2 introduces substantial enhancements in speed, compatibility, and new features, such as the integration of Box32 to run 32-bit applications on 64-bit operating systems.
Key Updates
Box64 v0.3.2 comes with several optimizations and new features:
- Box32: It is now possible to run 32-bit programs on 64-bit systems thanks to this newly integrated functionality. Although it is disabled by default and still under development, Box32 already supports some games and applications with good performance.
- Native flags: Support for “native flags” in ARM64 has been added, allowing for optimization of CPU-intensive tasks by aligning flags between ARM architectures and x86. In tests like the 7zip benchmark, this improvement has provided speed increases of up to 30%.
- Improvements to the strong memory model: The emulation of the memory model has been revised to optimize the insertion of memory barriers and enhance performance, especially in games that rely on these features, such as those developed in Unity3D.
- Compatibility with new extensions and system calls: More Vulkan extensions and new system calls have been added, expanding compatibility with more recent software.
Box64 versus Other Emulation Solutions
Box64 continues to enhance its performance and competes favorably with solutions such as Rosetta, Apple’s emulation tool. In performance tests with benchmarks like 7zip, Box64 on Fedora managed to outperform Rosetta on Apple Silicon devices.
On the other hand, while Box64 excels in many areas, it still faces challenges against software optimized for advanced CPU extensions like AVX.
The Future with Box32
Box32, a subset of Box64, emerges in response to the need to run 32-bit software in 64-bit environments, a concern increasingly relevant in the industry. Although still in its early stages, Box32 can already run some games from Linux and Windows, and it promises to expand compatibility in the future.
However, there are current limitations, such as the lack of support for Vulkan and certain incompatibilities in Wine, which the development team is working to resolve in upcoming versions.
Impact and Contributions
In addition to performance improvements, Box64 v0.3.2 includes new tools such as “wrapperhelper,” an automated solution for generating library wrappers more quickly and accurately. This facilitates developer contributions to expanding the emulator’s compatibility.
Downloads and Availability
The new version of Box64 v0.3.2 and Box86 v0.3.8 are now available on GitHub. Users can take advantage of these updates to run x86 software on ARM64 devices more efficiently, especially older games and applications that were previously incompatible.
With these innovations, Box64 solidifies its position as a key tool for emulation in Linux environments, marking a step forward in compatibility and performance on mixed-architecture platforms.
