Chromehounds Online Revived: Modder Restores FromSoftware's Mech Classic for Xbox 360

Chromehounds Online Revived: Modder Restores FromSoftware's Mech Classic for Xbox 360 Since its debut on the Xbox 360 in 2006, Chromehounds, developed by FromSoftware and published by Sega, has garnered a passionate following among mech combat enthusiasts.

Though never enjoying the mainstream success of some contemporaries, Chromehounds earned a reputation as a hidden gem due to its varied mechanical customization, persistent online campaign, and pioneering use of voice communication for teamwork.

The game's servers were shuttered in 2010, leaving its unique online features inaccessible—until now. In an inspiring display of gaming community dedication, the online functionality of Chromehounds has recently been resurrected.

This revival is thanks to the ongoing efforts of a modder known by the handle ImagineBeingAtComputers, who launched the OpenCOMBAS project in 2023.

By leveraging OpenCOMBAS alongside Adrian Cassar’s Xenia Canary Netplay, a fork of the popular Xbox 360 emulator that enables online play, former and new players can once again sign in and experience Chromehounds' multiplayer battles. As detailed by Read Only Memo, the restoration project has already accomplished the initial milestone of enabling classic 6v6 'free' battles.

Voice communication, a hallmark of the original, is not yet restored, but ImagineBeingAtComputers emphasized that the main goal is to fully relaunch the Neroimus War campaign system—the backbone of Chromehounds’ persistent online world.

According to the project's roadmap, the objective is to bring back the core server responsible for managing statistics, faction alignment, and real-time war status.

In a statement reflecting on the technical challenges, ImagineBeingAtComputers explained the necessity of convincing game clients that the war is live, efficiently tracking faction statistics, and maintaining a sophisticated relational database for campaign data.

This includes recording details like player factions, squad composition, and the evolving strategic map—a major undertaking for any fan project. ImagineBeingAtComputers also mentioned that a recent job layoff, while unwelcome, has provided the opportunity to dedicate significant time to this restoration.

Reflecting on a recent community play session, the modder noted, "Getting a lobby of 12 players going really felt as though we were transported back to 2009.

After so many years, reliving these matches has genuinely been like a dream come true." They also shared an optimistic outlook, highlighting the chance to focus almost entirely on advancing the project and bringing Chromehounds’ unique online experience to a new generation of Xbox 360 gamers. For the dedicated fanbase, the revival of Chromehounds on Xbox 360 through the combined efforts of OpenCOMBAS, Xenia Canary Netplay, and a dedicated group of developers and players signals a new era for the once-dormant mech battler.

With persistent work to restore the full scope of the Neroimus War and multiplayer features, Chromehounds is set for a well-deserved renaissance within the Xbox 360 and emulation community—a testament to the enduring impact of FromSoftware and Sega’s ambitious vision in online gaming history.

FromSoftware Sega Xbox Xbox 360 Chromehounds OpenCOMBAS ImagineBeingAtComputers Xenia Canary Read Only Memo Adrian Cassar