Outrun 2026

A port of the Master System version of Out Run to the Amstrad CPC 6128 (128K), on a single disk.

This game was programmed entirely by an AI: Claude Opus 5.5 (Anthropic), using Claude Code. I did not write a single line of assembly: I directed the project, tested every build on emulator and on real hardware, and reported what was wrong. Claude wrote the Z80 assembly engine, the extraction tools and the music conversion.

How it was made

The Master System code cannot run as-is on a CPC: its road relies on the console's video hardware. The engine was therefore rewritten for the CPC, and everything else was measured on the Master System version rather than guessed: tracks, scenery, music, car handling.

Features

• All 15 stages and their forks, with the original curves and hills
• All 3 full-length tunes: Magical Sound Shower, Passing Breeze, Splash Wave
• A specific horizon and roadside scenery for each stage
• Arrow signs before curves, placed as on the Master System
• Traffic, crashes and spins
• Start sequence with the crowd and the starting lights
• Extended time at each checkpoint, as in the original
• Three difficulty levels: EASY, NORMAL, HARD (HARD = Master System handling)
• Manual or automatic gearbox

Technical notes

• Mode 0, double buffering, about 16 frames per second
• Handling matched to the original: acceleration, braking, steering, centrifugal force
• Music converted from the Master System's SN76489 to the CPC's AY chip, played at the original tempo

Controls

Joystick or keyboard (cursor keys, Space for fire).

Manual gearbox

• Accelerate: Up
• Brake: Down
• Steer: Left / Right
• Change gear: Fire 2 or Return

Automatic gearbox

• Accelerate: Up, Space or fire button
• Brake: Down
• Steer: Left / Right

On startup: choose the music, then the difficulty, then the gearbox (Left / Right, fire to confirm).

Running the game

You need a CPC 6128 or an emulator set to 128K. Insert the disk and type:

RUN"OUTRUN

Credits

• Programming, tools, data and music conversion: Claude Opus 5.5 (Anthropic), via Claude Code
• Project direction and testing: Michel Louvet
• Original game: Out Run © SEGA

Free, non-commercial fan port, not affiliated with SEGA. Out Run is a trademark of SEGA.