virtua_racing_playdate_footage
Image: Alex Urbano

Some inspiring video has been uploaded to X that appears to show a homebrewed port of Sega's Virtua Racing running on everyone's favourite crank-yankin' handheld console, Playdate.

The two videos, posted to the account of certified tech-head Alex Urbano (@el_goe), include instantly recognisable elements of Sega's 1992 coin-op classic, including high-speed F1 racing, chunky polygonal models, unnervingly triangular pit men, and even the big wheel backdrop.

The gameplay also ticks along at a fair whip, with on-screen stats recording a variable rate of 24-42 FPS.

As far as the details go, that's pretty much your lot, as Urbano hasn't yet confirmed any intention to complete or release the port. In any case, it's certainly a great advert for the Playdate hardware.

Released in 2022, the console immediately attracted attention with its novel crank control and e-reader-style screen. Playdate utilises open-source software to allow users to create their own games - whether through the Playdate's native SDK or Panic's user-friendly tool, Pulp.

Virtua Racing has always been a mainstay in the homebrew/emulation market, typically due to the problematic nature of converting Sega's powerful, expensive, but also fragile Model 1 hardware. Recently, coder Alphanu1 debuted a new FPGA Model 1 emulation core that offers one of the best recreations of the groundbreaking 3D racer to date.

That said, this early footage of pocket-sized VR action is equally impressive, and hopefully Urbano will grace us with more information on this project soon. Gentlemen, start your engines.

I know that's Daytona USA. Don't @ me.