snicolast/SegaRally2Native

Overview

Sega Rally 2 Native runs the 1998 Model 3 arcade game on Windows as a recompiled C++ program rather than through an emulator. The project supplies a PowerPC-to-C++ recompiler, a Vulkan renderer, and game-side code; the original ROM stays with the user. The README documents widescreen support, ray-traced shadows and reflections, redesigned dust, HD liveries and HUD, DLSS/DLAA or MSAA anti-aliasing, high refresh rates, surround/headphone audio, keyboard, gamepad and experimental wheel input, and 14 achievements with per-course records.

Quick start

Requirements: 64-bit Windows 10/11, a GPU with a Vulkan 1.3 driver, and your own srally2.zip (Sega Model 3 Step 2.0, including epr-20512.bin). Other ROM versions do not work, and build.bat reports missing chips.

1. Download NicoLauncher-setup.exe from the NicoLauncher releases and run it.
2. Open Sega Rally 2 in the launcher, press Install, and select your srally2.zip.
3. Press Play.

Without the launcher, updates can be applied with update.bat, which downloads changed files from GitHub and rebuilds while preserving ROM, settings and textures. The in-game command line (SegaRally2.exe --help) exposes options such as --aspect 21:9, --hud-centre and --dump-textures. Ray tracing needs an NVIDIA RTX or AMD RX 6000+ card; DLSS/DLAA is RTX-only, and unsupported effects disable themselves.

Constraints

The repository ships no ROM and no prebuilt game; the license forbids redistributing compiled builds, so every user builds from their own ROM copy. Ray tracing and DLSS depend on specific GPU generations. Wheel support is read through SDL with force feedback but has never been tested on real hardware; settings live in save\wheel.ini, and SR2_WHEEL_LOG=1 prints axis and button activity. The port is a fan project, not affiliated with Sega, and the game assets remain the property of their owners.

HotRepo's take

The repository appeared on the new-project C++ list for 2026-11-13 with 125 stars and 24 net new stars over a roughly 11.5-hour window, plus 7 forks. It has no recorded position on the all-language daily ranking, so the available data supports only a single-day observation, not a trend. The technical premise—recompiling Model 3 PowerPC code to C++ with a Vulkan renderer—is documented in the architecture notes, but the delivery path depends on running an external launcher installer and supplying a ROM, so readers should weigh that against the stated licensing terms.