A Blast from the Past: Revisiting the Iconic Wipeout Racing Series

For more than two decades, Wipeout has been widely recognized as one of the best futuristic racing franchises ever. Created by Psygnosis and developed by Sony, the series began in 1995 with Wipeout for the original PlayStation. Since then, the series has grown to include five more titles and a spin-off. In this article, we take a look at the history of the Wipeout series and the developers behind it.

The Beginnings of Wipeout

Wipeout first released in 1995 for the PlayStation. The game was developed by Psygnosis, a British video game developer that had previously released games like Lemmings and Shadow of the Beast. Wipeout was a revolutionary game, combining fast-paced racing with futuristic tracks and vehicles. The game was a huge success, selling over two million copies and becoming one of the best-selling PlayStation games of all time.

The Wipeout Series

Following the success of the original, Psygnosis released two more titles in the series: Wipeout 2097 and Wipeout 3. Both titles featured improved graphics, more tracks, and more vehicles. In 1999, Sony acquired Psygnosis and took over development of the Wipeout series.

Sony released two more titles in the series: Wipeout Fusion and Wipeout Pure. Wipeout Fusion was the first game in the series to feature an online multiplayer mode. Wipeout Pure was the last game in the series to be released for the PlayStation Portable.

In 2009, Sony released Wipeout HD for the PlayStation 3. The game featured high-definition graphics and tracks from the previous Wipeout games. The game was well-received, with critics praising its smooth controls and intense racing.

In 2012, Sony released Wipeout 2048 for the PlayStation Vita. The game was a prequel to the original Wipeout and featured improved graphics and new tracks. It was the last game in the series to be released before the franchise went dormant.

The Future of Wipeout

In 2018, Sony announced that they were working on a new Wipeout game for the PlayStation 4. The game, titled Wipeout Omega Collection, was released in 2017 and featured updated graphics and improved controls. The game was a huge success, selling over one million copies and becoming one of the best-selling PlayStation 4 games of all time.

The Wipeout franchise remains one of the most beloved racing series to date. The games have sold over eight million copies worldwide and have been praised for their amazing graphics, intense speed, and tight controls. The future of the series is uncertain, but with Sony at the helm, the franchise is sure to continue to evolve and innovate for years to come.