A copy of
WipEout's original source code released by video game archival team Forest of Illusion includes the original, uncompiled code for both the PlayStation and Windows versions of the game. At the moment it is unconfirmed whether the sources can be built into working executables and played, though some developers are already expressing interest in fixing the files so that they can be built and run. A source code release is a relatively uncommon occurrence for preservation, and considering the incredible
mods created for Super Mario 64 after it was successfully reverse-engineered, the source code of
WipEout could be an interesting playground for mod developers.
While it is important for preservation, the release of
WipEout's source code is also unsanctioned by Sony or Psygnosis/Studio Liverpool. This could cause legal problems, as game companies can be incredibly restrictive about archival, with Nintendo's recent takedown of an old
Super Mario 64 strategy guide being an especially egregious example. Hopefully Sony is more lenient, especially since the
WipEout series has been mostly dormant for so many years.