The Nimbus Project — Alpha 1.2
Released November 2, 2026 · Linux, Windows and Android

Nimbus is a free, closed-source, custom-built project (we plan to open source it later). No donations.
The three games' runtime components are bundled in each download. Original disc images are not included:
you need your own NTSC-U discs. Third-party license notices ship inside every download.

WHAT'S NEW

Quick Match, straight to the fight (Budokai and Budokai 2)
- Quick Match now drops you right at the 1P-vs-2P character select with every fighter unlocked.
  There's no separate Quick Versus menu item; it's just how Quick Match starts now.
- Local Two Players uses the same unlocked setup.
- Each quick start uses its own separate session memory card, so your own saves stay untouched.
  Normal Play keeps using your regular card.
- Tournament, public rooms and manual host/join start the same way as before.
- Sagas is unchanged and keeps its existing local two-player co-op.

Playing with friends on older versions
- Mixed Alpha 1.0 / 1.1 / 1.2 matchmaking still works: whoever hosts decides how the match starts.
  A 1.2 host starts at the unlocked character select; an older host uses the original start, and a 1.2
  player joining them follows along. No need to split players up by version (the usual core
  compatibility requirements still apply).

Getting the update
- Install the full 1.2 download to get these launcher changes. Updating only the host module does not
  add them to an older launcher.
- Android installs as an update over earlier alphas and keeps your links, settings and saves.

What's in the download
- The two unlocked memory-card seeds and the quick-start states are intentionally bundled.
- No disc images, other personal saves, source files or signing keys are included.

Under the hood
- New shared host shared-20261102. Renderer v5zz-shared and the approved game cores are unchanged.
  Component API 1 and netplay protocol 1 are unchanged.
- Separate signed host, renderer and core downloads are still available on the website. Component
  changes and rollback apply the next time you launch a game; nothing updates automatically and parts
  aren't swapped mid-game. Launcher updates come through the main distro.

Testing
- The final packages were tested on Linux, native Windows and a Retroid Pocket 5 (Android).
- Linux and Retroid Pocket 5 matched in a Budokai 2 Quick Match crossplay session.
- New-host/older-host compatibility passed in both directions on Linux.
- This is targeted testing, not an exhaustive check of every game, platform pair and older version.
  Crossplay coverage otherwise stays as listed on the website.

REQUIREMENTS
- Linux: Ubuntu 26.04, x86-64.
- Windows: Windows 11 x64, AVX2-class CPU, Vulkan-capable GPU, Microsoft Visual C++ x64 Redistributable.
  This release is Vulkan only.
- Android: Android 13+, arm64.

Contact: TheNimbusProject@yahoo.com