Zexyen Releases Witch-Time, an Unofficial Static Recompilation Project for Bayonetta 3 on PC

An open-source project named Witch-Time on GitHub offers an unofficial static recompilation tool for the Nintendo Switch game Bayonetta 3 to run on 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PCs. According to the repository documentation, the software translates the game's AArch64 code into C locally using the user's legally obtained game dump, operating on a re-implemented system layer that includes thread handling, file systems, input, audio, and Vulkan-based NVN translation.

Project maintainers emphasize that the repository contains no proprietary game code, assets, keys, or Nintendo SDK files. All derived binaries, caches, and translated files are generated locally on the user's machine during the build process.

How the Recompilation Works

• Local Processing: Users provide a legally extracted game folder containing `exefs/` and `romfs/` directories.
• Translation and Build: The included Rust-based build tool (`wtbuild`) translates code and compiles it locally.
• Runtime Requirements: Prebuilt releases bundle necessary components such as LLVM's clang and lld, along with SDL3 and FFmpeg dependencies, requiring only an updated Vulkan driver on the host system.

Additional Features and Integration

• Bayonetta Origins Prologue Support: Users can optionally include update files (Title ID `01004A4010FEA001`, update 1.2.0) to enable the prologue accessible via the in-game book feature.
• Launcher and Shortcuts: The utility features a graphical launcher and command-line arguments like `--play` to integrate directly with platforms such as Steam, Playnite, or LaunchBox.

Practical Implications and Verification

Because the binaries are not code-signed, security tools like Windows Defender may flag the application as a Trojan. Users are advised to download the software exclusively from the official GitHub repository and verify file integrity using the provided SHA256 checksums alongside tools like `certutil`. Reviewers and users should consult the repository's `docs/STATUS.md` and `docs/RE_NOTES.md` for technical progress and known limitations before attempting a build.