The Vectrex has a new anti-gravity racer in Wireout-RE 2X

Futurevector Soft released Wireout-RE 2X, a digital ROM for the Vectrex console that brings high-speed anti-gravity racing to the 1982 hardware. The game is available on itch.io for $5.00.

The project started in 2019 as a homebrew tribute to Psygnosis' Wipeout series. Developer Razmasynth has spent the last few years iterating on the concept. The original Wireout adapted the PlayStation classic's formula into crisp monochrome vector lines. A subsequent Wireout-RE update added missiles, selectable speed classes, and expanded the cartridge size.

Smoother curves and faster ships

This 2X edition pushes the Vectrex hardware further. The update increases the overall gameplay speed and smooths out the vector curve calculations. The eight championship circuits now feature jumps, trenches, and tunnel environments.

Translating a 1995 3D racing game to a 1982 console is a specific technical challenge. The Vectrex draws lines directly between coordinates rather than rendering pixels in a grid. This makes it naturally suited for the wireframe aesthetic of early 3D graphics, but maintaining a high framerate while calculating track geometry and opponent ships requires careful optimization. The new tunnel sections in 2X show off how well the hardware handles scaling vector shapes at high speeds.

Psygnosis launched the original Wipeout in 1995 alongside the PlayStation in Europe and North America. It helped define Sony's console as a stylish entertainment medium, leaning heavily on licensed electronic music and a distinct graphic design language. Wireout strips away the licensed soundtrack and the textured polygons, leaving only the core mechanics: navigating tight corners at absurd speeds while managing weapon pickups.

A dedicated homebrew scene

The Vectrex remains a unique target for modern development. General Consumer Electronics launched the system with a built-in monochrome cathode-ray tube monitor designed specifically for vector graphics. The console was discontinued during the 1984 market crash, but its distinctive display technology kept a dedicated homebrew scene alive for decades.

Developers have built everything from twin-stick shooters to platformers for the system. Because the console relies on an analog display drawing continuous lines, the games have a visual clarity that pixel-based systems from the same era cannot match. A straight line on a Vectrex has no jagged edges.

Futurevector Soft previously released Moskwa, another vector title, before focusing heavily on the Wireout series. The steady progression from the 2019 release to this 2X version shows a developer getting more comfortable with the hardware's limitations and learning how to squeeze extra performance out of the Motorola 6809 CPU.

Digital for now

The current release is a digital ROM file. Players will need a flash cartridge like the VecMulti to run it on authentic hardware. Emulators like ParaJVE or the MiSTer FPGA Vectrex core are alternative options for those without the original console.

I love that the Vectrex is still getting new releases in 2026. I hope this comes out in a physical cart eventually. Playing vector games on a modern LCD screen never quite captures the intensity of a real CRT drawing lines with an electron gun. The phosphor glow is half the reason to play these games.

At $5, it's a low-risk download for anyone with a working Vectrex or a configured emulator. The eight tracks offer a decent amount of variety, and the addition of missiles gives the racing a bit more friction than a standard time trial.