Cemu 1.27.1

As of this writing, Cemu has moved to versions 2.0 and 2.1, introducing an entirely new Qt-based UI and online multiplayer via Pretendo. However, Cemu 1.27.1 remains the recommended version for users who:

Version 2.x has migrated to a more aggressive development cycle, and while it adds features, some users report regression in specific games (e.g., Donkey Kong Country Returns shadow glitches). For a "set it and forget it" emulation station, stick with 1.27.1.

CEMU 1.27.1 didn't invent asynchronous shaders (async compile), but it perfected the pipeline. Previous versions suffered from "hitching" – every time a new shader was needed, the entire emulation thread stalled. cemu 1.27.1

This release introduced a triple-buffer shader cache:

For end users, this meant The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild finally ran stutter-free on mid-range GPUs (GTX 1060/RX 580) without requiring a full shader cache download. As of this writing, Cemu has moved to versions 2

We tested three demanding games on a mid-range PC (Ryzen 5 3600, GTX 1660 Super, 16GB DDR4) to quantify the improvements.

| Game | Cemu 1.26.2 (Vulkan) | Cemu 1.27.1 (Vulkan Async) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Breath of the Wild (60 FPS mod) | 45-60 FPS with stutters every 5-10 sec (shader compilation) | 60 FPS locked, 1-2 minor "pops" per minute | | Bayonetta 2 | 55 FPS, audio crackle during cutscenes | 60 FPS, flawless audio | | Super Mario 3D World | 60 FPS, but 1-second freeze when collecting first power-up | 60 FPS, no freezes | | Xenoblade Chronicles X | 30 FPS with drops to 20 in NLA (New Los Angeles) | 30 FPS locked (emulator cap), no drops | Version 2

Conclusion: If you own a GTX 1050 Ti or better, you can now play almost the entire Wii U library at native or higher resolutions without ever downloading a shader cache.