[oldpoem]

The last entry from Team Kodi is from February of 2015:

"The goal will be to get rid of precompiled libs and compile them ourselves like we do on other platforms."

I don't think this is all that significant, but HEVC decoding should be common in the future and some systems (like mine) will have to be upgraded to just to decode high-bitrate 1080p videos. x64 is quite a bit more efficient and would help with video decoding that will be more troublesome in the coming years.

I found some tests online. A Core 2 Duo cannot decode HEVC at 1080p using software decoding. x64 isn't possible either, but this codec appears to be very hard on CPUs. And only one graphics card, the Nividia GTX960, currently supports HEVC hardware decoding. A Core 2 Duo Quad did okay, so I'm not certain if this type of decoding has trouble with dual-core computers or something else is at work. I'd have to try a file myself.

Compiling from source for x64 is one thing. Coding for x64 is another matter. So it push down priority for x64 because Kodi depends a lot on external dependencies / libraries.

HEVC wjhile efficient at compression ratio, is still has very little hw decoding support. And lot of Kodi HW aren't powerful PC , many are android based SoC or low powered HTPC. I believe there is very few SoC that support H265 hw decoding. Not everyone would like high powered & noisy PC in their living room or bedroom. I had 2 android device for other family member to use (it's cost effective & easy to use). Also my main HTPC i3 is fanless.