wipeout-rewrite (WipEout in the browser)

wipeout-rewrite runs WipEout (1995), the PlayStation launch-era anti-gravity racer, in a browser tab. The author’s own web version downloads the game data for you, so you need no files of your own: pick the full version (about 144 MB) or a minimal version without intro and music (about 11 MB). It plays best on a desktop with a keyboard. It was working when we checked on 19 October 2026.

The web version loads the game’s data from the author’s site, the code is based on the WipEout source that leaked in 2022, and WipEout belongs to Sony.

What it is

wipeout-rewrite is a near-complete rewrite in C of the original WipEout by Dominic Szablewski (phoboslab), published on 10 August 2023 together with his blog post Rewriting wipEout. It started from the PC (ATI Rage) source code of the game that leaked in 2022. The post describes what was replaced:

• a new OpenGL renderer that moves the transformations to the GPU;
• physics converted from fixed-point to floating-point maths, with a delta-time game loop so the frame rate is no longer locked;
• new menus, HUD, game loop and memory management;
• a new sound mixer, with music in the QOA format and the intro re-encoded as MPEG1.

The code builds for Windows, macOS, Linux and the web (WebAssembly). The README calls it a work in progress and warns to expect bugs; the blog post mentions missing tunnel reverb as one known gap. The repository was still being updated in 2026.

How to play in the browser

1. Open the web version on phoboslab.org.
2. Choose FULL VERSION (the complete game, about 144 MB) or MINIMAL VERSION (no intro, no music, about 11 MB).
3. Wait for the download to finish, then click the game.
4. Use the fullscreen link at the top for a bigger picture.

Controls

The web page lists these keys:

On touch devices the page hides the key list and shows on-screen buttons for steering, thrust, weapon, brakes, view and pause. We have not tested it on a phone.

Native builds

The repository builds a native game for Windows, macOS and Linux (and the BSDs) with SDL2 or Sokol. These builds do not include any game data: you provide data from your own copy of WipEout, laid out as the README describes. The author does not publish ready-made executables. With the SDL2 backend, game controllers work, but the analog sticks are not bound by default; set them in the Options menu.

Ports by other people

The code has been ported further by other developers. All need your own game data:

• Dreamcast: wipeout-dc by jnmartin84, released as a finished “v2” in 2025 with 24-bit colour, a longer draw distance, optional widescreen, VMU saves and controller remapping.
• PS Vita: a homebrew conversion, at v1.3 in April 2025.
• Playdate: an early work-in-progress port by Tom Salvo, reported in 2024.

Is it safe and legal?

• It is an unofficial fan project, not made or endorsed by Sony.
• The repository has no licence. The README says the code may be based on the leaked source, which would probably infringe copyright, though it might count as fair use. The author argues it is probably fine because the game is old and no longer sold.
• The README does not allow commercial use, and it counts hosting the game on a website that shows any advertising as commercial. We do not host or embed it; we only link the author’s own page.
• In the blog post the author asks Sony to either leave the project alone or shut it down and make a proper remaster. We found no sign that Sony has acted against it.

Not working?

• Stuck on “downloading”: the full version is about 144 MB; wait, or try the minimal version.
• No sound: click inside the game once; browsers block audio until you interact with the page. The minimal version has no music by design.
• Keys do nothing: click the game canvas so it has focus.
• “Exception thrown”: reload the page; the details are in the browser’s JavaScript console.

Unofficial. This page is written by an independent directory. It is not made by, endorsed by or affiliated with Psygnosis (Sony) or Dominic Szablewski (phoboslab) (wipeout-rewrite (WipEout in the browser)'s author). We do not host any files, and we never link to game files, ROMs or ISOs.