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Wine port for OpenBSD proposed, runs 64-bit Windows apps

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On 18 October 2026, Thomas Frohwein posted a message to the openbsd-ports mailing list proposing a new emulators/wine port for OpenBSD. He opens by calling it what might be the most surprising port proposal of the year, and says it was a collective effort. The message ends with "ok?", the usual request for approval to add the port.

The obstacle was the %gs/gsbase question, which had been discussed earlier on the openbsd-tech list. What unblocked it was a software solution from Andrii. As Frohwein relays Andrii's explanation: "can't set gsbase, so we are emulating %gs prefix on commands". Frohwein says the heavy lifting was done by Andrii and Fabien (no surnames given).

Frohwein says there is a ground-swell of interest in Wine, different from even 5-10 years ago because a lot of Windows software has since moved to 64-bit. The team has tested several dozen 64-bit Windows programs, mostly successfully. He points to screenshots on the r/openbsd_gaming subreddit and to livestream recordings. Even the Remaster of The Witcher 3, which he says was released just last month, runs and runs well. It requires adding vkd3d-proton (the README explains how). He adds that the livestream looks less fluent than the game really is, because it was recorded on the same system with ffmpeg.

The biggest limitation is that WoW64 does not work, so 32-bit Windows software is still a no-op. Frohwein notes that file(1) can tell the two apart: output such as "MS-DOS executable PE for MS Windows (GUI) Intel 80386 32-bit" means the program is 32-bit.

The port's built-in tests are disabled for now. Enabling them is pretty involved because they need access to the X server, and multiple tests still hang. Frohwein says the hangs did not show up in real-life testing with a good number of games, and that work on this continues.

For anyone who wants to try it, he suggests Notepad++ as a small, fairly straightforward 64-bit Windows program, and links the portable x64 build of version 8.9.8.1. He warns that this is, as always, run-at-your-own-risk software, and advises setting up a separate, non-privileged user until the developers can explore whether some fencing in, potentially with unveil(2), can be done.

Frohwein thanks brynet, bentley, pertho (on irc.libera.chat #openbsd-gaming) and vl_ms for testing the port draft and for contributions.

Key facts

  • Thomas Frohwein proposed a new emulators/wine port on the openbsd-ports list on 2026-10-18; the message ends with "ok?", so it is a proposal.
  • The enabler was Andrii's software workaround for the missing gsbase: "can't set gsbase, so we are emulating %gs prefix on commands".
  • Several dozen 64-bit Windows programs were tested, mostly successfully, including the Remaster of The Witcher 3 (with vkd3d-proton added).
  • WoW64 does not work, so 32-bit Windows software does not run.
  • Built-in tests are disabled for now: they need X server access and multiple tests still hang.

Why it matters

Running Windows software through Wine on OpenBSD hinged on the %gs/gsbase problem, which this port gets around in software by emulating the %gs prefix on commands. Frohwein argues that interest in Wine is higher than 5-10 years ago because a lot of Windows software has since moved to 64-bit. He calls it what might be the most surprising port proposal of the year.

Who it affects

OpenBSD users who want to run 64-bit Windows programs, games in particular; the testers gathered around the #openbsd-gaming channel and the r/openbsd_gaming subreddit are the ones named. Owners of 32-bit Windows software are not helped, since WoW64 does not work.

How to use it

Frohwein suggests testing with Notepad++ (the portable x64 build, version 8.9.8.1). Games such as the Remaster of The Witcher 3 need vkd3d-proton added; the port's README explains how. To check whether a Windows .exe or .dll is 32-bit, run file(1) on it: output like "MS-DOS executable PE for MS Windows (GUI) Intel 80386 32-bit" means it will not run. He advises a separate, non-privileged user account.

How solid is it

This is a first-party message from the port's proposer, not an independent review. The evidence offered is screenshots and livestream recordings, and a count given only as "several dozens" of 64-bit programs tested, "mostly successfully". No figures are given for failures or for performance. The message is a request for approval; it does not say the port has been committed to the ports tree or released.

Risks and caveats

Frohwein calls it run-at-your-own-risk software. The only protection he mentions is a separate, non-privileged user, and he says developers have yet to explore whether fencing in, potentially with unveil(2), can be done. 32-bit Windows software does not work at all. The built-in tests are disabled; multiple tests hang, though not in real-life testing with a good number of games.

“can't set gsbase, so we are emulating %gs prefix on commands”

— Andrii, as relayed by Thomas Frohwein on the openbsd-ports mailing list