PS1 classic WipEout gets unofficial Xbox release
While Xbox exclusives, like Sea Of Thieves and the upcoming Gears Of War remaster, are finding a new home on the PlayStation 5, that doesn't mean Sony intends to return the favour.
Microsoft's multiplatform push has clearly been in response to the Xbox Series X/S's dwindling sales. At the same time, PlayStation 5 sales are still increasing, in the US at least, so there's zero chance of seeing the likes of God Of War or The Last Of Us on an Xbox platform.
And yet an old PlayStation favourite, WipEout, is currently available for purchase from the Xbox store… and it's clearly not happened with Sony's permission.
The game has actually been available on the Xbox store since April, where it's listed as Anti-Gravity Racing Wipeout and is being sold for £14.99.
At a first glance, it seems like it's just a spiritual follow-up; something meant to resemble WipEout but is still an original product.
Upon learning of its existence, though, Digital Foundry took one for the team and actually bought it, discovering that, no, it's just WipEout. As in the original PlayStation game.
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
More specifically, it's a badly emulated version of WipEout, one that has stretched out menus and Xbox buttons awkwardly placed over where the PlayStation buttons would be.
The game also includes WipEout 3 (entitled Anti-Gravity Racing Special Edition) and even warns you not to try and run it on a 2013 model of the Xbox One. Digital Foundry accepted the challenge and can confirm that it runs terribly.
They ran direct comparisons with the original PlayStation games and while they are by and large identical, some adjustments have been made to these emulated duplicates. More Trending
For instance, the emulated WipEout is the PAL version released in the UK. To compensate for running on our 50Hz TVs, developer Psygnosis adjusted the speed so it would match the NTSC version released in the US.
However, the emulated version bumps it up to 60Hz, which means the game runs faster than it should. All references to Psygnosis have also been scrubbed from the game, although all the (un-)licensed music seems to be intact.
If you needed any further evidence that this Xbox release isn't legitimate, the developer and publisher of Anti-Gravity Racing Wipeout is listed as LLS Games.
With more attention being drawn to it, the game will likely be removed from the Xbox store, especially if Sony decides to send in the lawyers.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
MORE: WipEout Omega Collection review – the past of the future of racing
MORE: Xbox Game Pass has been 'damaging the industry for a decade' says Arkane founder
MORE: Xbox is being set up to fail by Microsoft bosses, claims insider
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
'Amazing' Sony headphones shoppers are calling 'best ever' cut by 45% to under £100
The Sony ULT WEAR headphones are now £99 on Amazon, down from £179, with deep bass, noise cancelling, and 30-hour battery life Whether commuting, working from home, or winding down with music, a good pair of headphones can transform the experience. With the right combination of sound quality, comfort, and smart features, some models stand out, especially when there's a significant discount involved. Sony's high-performance over-ear headphones have received a major discount, with many reviewers describing them as 'amazing' and even calling them the 'best ever'. The Sony ULT WEAR Over Ear Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are now available on Amazon for £99, down from their original retail price of £179, a saving of 45%. Finished in black, the headphones offer a premium listening experience packed with features including deep bass, advanced noise cancellation, and up to 30 hours of battery life. The headphones are powered by Sony's Integrated Processor V1 and 40mm driver units, designed to deliver what the company calls 'ULT POWER SOUND'. Users can adjust the bass through a dedicated button, which activates two sound modes: Deep Bass for extra low-end punch and Attack Bass for added energy. The result is a powerful, customisable sound profile particularly suited to bass lovers. Noise cancelling is handled by Sony's adaptive technology, with an ambient sound mode available for those who prefer to stay aware of their surroundings. For calls, the headphones use beam-forming microphones and precise voice pickup technology to ensure clear audio, even in noisy environments. Other features include multi-point Bluetooth pairing, support for Google Assistant and Alexa, and quick charging, with 1.5 hours of playback from just a three-minute top-up. The headphones are compatible with iOS and Android and come with a compact carry case. For those who want alternatives, Sennheiser's ACCENTUM Plus Wireless Headphones are currently £139, down from £199.99, while Soundcore's Space One model is £62.99 and offers adaptive noise cancelling and 40-hour battery life. But if it's Sony's rich bass, smart design, and strong feature set you're after, this deal on the ULT WEAR headphones is hard to ignore. With a current rating of 4.5 stars from more than 1,900 reviews, the Sony ULT WEAR has received widespread praise for its sound quality, comfort, and build. One reviewer wrote: 'Amazing headset… the bass is huge… They look and feel good and sound amazing, the best overhead earphones I've probably ever had.' Another said: 'Great sound… great battery life… another Sony winner.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Others praised the headset's premium feel, with one review stating: 'Extremely high value for money. The build quality is absolutely amazing and they come with so many features. Noise cancelling is absolutely fantastic.' However, a few users expressed concerns. One reviewer reported a crack forming on the side of the headphones after six months of regular use, suggesting they may not be the best choice for gym wear. Another wrote: 'Too much bass and not enough soundstage. Good noise cancelling and comfort, but not great for hearing background instruments.' The Sony ULT WEAR is currently available for £99 on Amazon, reduced from £179.
Metro
17 hours ago
- Metro
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga
A reader celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Commodore Amiga and suggests that the Switch 2 is its closest current equivalent. It's been a lot of fun to see the love for the Commodore Amiga this week, which I had no idea was 40 years old. As has been pointed out, probably nobody outside of Europe either knows or cares about it now but to me it was the most important games format when I was kid. Which is to say it's what I had, and I couldn't afford a Mega Drive or SNES. Or rather I couldn't afford their games. Amiga games were a lot cheaper (and, well, you know) and they also seemed a lot more varied. To my eyes the vast majority of console games were just platformers of one kind or another. I never even heard of Zelda or Final Fantasy until the PlayStation era and while we never got anything as good as Sonic the Hedgehog on the Amiga I can honestly say I wasn't that bothered. On the Amiga we had all kinds of crazy things, and lots of 3D games and games made in Europe and the UK which never appeared anywhere else. But as soon as consoles took over everything was made in Japan or the US and we've never really gone back from that, even with modern indie gaming on the PC. PlayStation and Xbox aren't interested in anything but a small number of games from a small number of publishers. Heck, the whole point of Xbox is Microsoft wanted to make American companies dominate the games industry, so I can't say I'm too upset that didn't work out. Thinking about what the modern equivalent of the Amiga is I guess you'd have to say it's the PC, but it doesn't feel that way to me. It's too unfocused and you have to use Steam to get anything out of it, which is very American focused. Weirdly it's the Nintendo Switch 2 which feels the closest to the Amiga to me, assuming it works out similar to the original Switch. Although the fact that it has a mouse by default already increases the comparisons, so I hope it makes good use of that. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. But it's really just how strange and varied all the games are, with no first person shooters or sad dad story games so far, just the crazy Mario Kart and Donkey Kong games and the promise that future games will be as weird as the Switch line-up was. Especially as Drag X Drive even looks a bit like Speedball 2. It's not just Nintendo though but all the other, smaller Japanese developers that they encourage. Companies I'm sure probably wouldn't still be going if it wasn't for the Switch. Games are too expensive to make on PlayStation and Xbox now, for small companies, but the Switch is low-powered enough that it's still possible. I'm not saying these sort of games aren't on the PlayStation as well, but there's not as many and they're certainly not as high profile. You'd never get Sony highlighting them in their equivalent of a Nintendo Direct. I guess what I'm getting at is that gaming seemed a lot less corporate and more unpredictable in the Amiga days and now that I'm older I can see why things like where the games are made and how much they cost to make (and so how much risk they can afford to take) affect that. More Trending There's no point dwelling too much on the past but it is useful to look back and see that not everything has changed for the better. By reader Lester The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft's best game and you should get it now it's cheap - Reader's Feature MORE: It is madness that Konami still hasn't made a new Castlevania - Reader's Feature MORE: I had a Commodore Amiga as a kid and this is not the gaming future I imagined - Reader's Feature
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Outlander's Caitriona Balfe says 'I never thought we would have to say goodbye' in emotional post
Outlander will come to an end with the eighth and final series in 2026 Outlander season eight has been confirmed to air in "early 2026" as Starz made an announcement on Instagram. Reacting to the teaser trailer which highlights how far Claire and Jamie Fraser have come since they first met in season one, Caitriona penned an emotional message. Sharing the poster for the final series on her Instagram story, Caitriona posted: "Wow. I never thought we be so lucky to get this far... and now that we have I never thought we would have to say goodbye... what a journey... what a story. "Thank you to Diana, the fans, our crew, fellow cast and our writers and producers... everyone at Sony and Starz... here is our final poster." The teaser for season eight will no doubt satisfy fans as it recaps the most important moments from Claire and Jamie's love story. Claire can be heard narrating: "Time is marked and measured in different ways. Nothing can stand against time. Not mountains, not armies." Jamie then replies: "Time doesn't matter, Sassenach… To see those years touch you gives me joy, for it means that you live." The title for the teaser reads: "Every promise, every sacrifice, every moment has led to this." However, one detail that will no doubt have caught the attention of fans is Jamie's declaration he will soon die. In the two and a half minute clip, he tells Claire he has read her late husband Frank Randall's book and it reveal war is coming in the backcountry. In a further blow, he reveals: "War is coming to the backcountry and that James Fraser dies in it." Fans will know from the novel, Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone, that Frank's book was posthumously and details the Battle of King's Mountain. Jamie and Claire had previously been reported to have died in a fire but it turned out to be a mistake. Fans will be hoping Frank's book also holds a mistake and Jamie will survive with Claire. Reacting to the teaser, one fan posted: "Can't believe THAT scene is coming to our screens in 2026… God, Claire Fraser help us all." Another added: "They better get their happily ever after or so help me God," as a third penned: "I don't think I took a single breath while watching this reel. I can't believe this is really coming to an end."
