Recommended method: How to patch Title Updates - XDanfr/FMX-Compatibility GitHub Wiki

Manual Patching of Xbox 360 Games to Latest Title Updates

A video version of this is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUajcJjVaPY

⚠️ Disclaimer
This guide is for educational purposes only and intended for reverse engineering, mod development, or game research (e.g., studying specific Title Updates like MW2 TU6 for mod menus). Results are not guaranteed for all games. Always back up clean, unmodified game files before proceeding.

Table of Contents

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Tools Required
  3. Simplified Steps
  4. Example 1: Halo 3
  5. Example 2: Black Ops 1
  6. Final Steps
  7. Notes & Troubleshooting
  8. Credits

Prerequisites

  • An extracted Xbox 360 game (disc backups only; does not cover GoD/XBLA/XBLI formats) in ISO format.
  • Basic familiarity with Xbox 360 modding tools (e.g., XeXMenu, Aurora).

Tools Required

  1. Xbox Backup Creator - Extract ISO files.
  2. XexTool GUI - Patch XEX/DLL files.
  3. Horizon - Extract Title Updates (TUs).
  4. Xbox 360 Game Hack - BadUpdate compatibility.
  5. FATXplorer (optional) - Extract TUs from Xbox 360 hard drives.
  6. WinRAR - Handle compressed files.

Simplified Steps

  1. Extract the game to a folder with no spaces/special characters.
  2. Identify the Media ID using XexTool GUI.
  3. Download/extract the latest TU (via Xbox Unity, Xbox Live, or hard drive extraction).
  4. Patch XEX/DLL files using XexTool GUI.
  5. Ensure BadUpdate compatibility with this repo (if applicable).
  6. Replace original files and test on the console.

Example 1: Halo 3

Key Steps

  1. Extract default.xex and game files.
  2. Grab Media ID via XexTool GUI (699E0227 for Halo 3).
  3. Download TU from Xbox Unity or Xbox Live.
  4. Patch files:
    • Rename files:
      • .dll_patch → .xexp
      • .dll → .xex.
    • Use XexTool GUI to apply patches.
  5. BadUpdate Fix: Use Xbox 360 Game Hack’s Make Retail option.

Example 2: Black Ops 1

Key Steps

  1. Extract default.xex and default_mp.xex.
  2. Grab Media ID (0AEB2159 for Black Ops 1).
  3. Extract TU#11 from Xbox Live using Horizon.
  4. Patch XEX files and rename to original filenames.
  5. Test with BadUpdate/RGH (delete existing TUs first).

Final Steps

  1. Replace original game files with patched versions.
  2. Delete existing TUs on your Xbox 360 (Settings → Storage).
  3. Transfer the game to your console and test.

Notes & Troubleshooting

  • Compatibility Issues:
    • Some games (e.g., Spec Ops: The Line) may crash post-patch (e.g., at Unreal logo).
    • Manually patching may "fix" BadUpdate issues but is not universal.
  • Advanced Modding:
    • This guide does not cover XEX/DLL reverse engineering (e.g., IDA, Ghidra).
    • Research modding forums for game-specific workflows.
  • Backups: Always keep unmodified files to recover from errors.

Credits