gaming

OpenMW compiled to WebAssembly runs Morrowind natively in a browser

A developer known as Dumpster Buddy compiled OpenMW, the open-source engine for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, to WebAssembly so the actual game engine runs inside a browser tab. The browser port boots into the game (Seyda Neen), supports saves, controllers and mods, and is not a video stream or emulator. Engine components were rebuilt for the web—OpenSceneGraph was ported to WebGL2 and work was done on shadows, water-reflection shaders and per-pixel lighting, with supersampling used because hardware anti-aliasing doesn't survive WebGL2 post-processing. The port requires local Morrowind game files to be accessible to the browser, and the developer is considering adding multiplayer and a mod manager.

• Dumpster Buddy compiled OpenMW to WebAssembly so the real Morrowind engine runs in a browser tab, not via streaming or emulation.
• The browser build boots directly into the game world (Seyda Neen) and supports saving progress, controller input, and mods.
• Technical work included porting the OpenSceneGraph renderer to WebGL2, fixing shadow artifacts, adding custom shader blur for water reflections and per-pixel lighting, and using supersampling because hardware AA fails after WebGL2 post-processing.
• The browser port needs the original Morrowind game files accessible on disk, and the developer has discussed adding multiplayer and a mod manager.