Cannonball DX gets a major new update for OutRun fans on PC

Cannonball DX has a new update, and this one puts most of its attention on Endless Mode. It’s a fairly substantial release for the PC recreation of Sega’s OutRun, bringing longer runs, genuinely random stage selection, deeper difficulty settings and fixes for several problems capable of showing up during extended sessions. There’s plenty happening elsewhere, too. Time Trial gets cleaner record handling, virtual force-feedback devices receive some useful fixes, and widescreen presentation has seen another round of tidying. Cannonball DX already goes well beyond running OutRun on a modern PC, and the new update spends its time tightening those extra modes rather than changing the basic game.

Endless Mode can finally stretch its legs

The biggest change is easy to spot. Endless Mode can now continue past Stage 15. Previous versions ran into problems once a session reached this point, which rather defeated the purpose of a mode built around keeping a run going. The new update fixes the progression system and makes stage selection genuinely random between games.

There’s some extra logic involved. Recently completed stages won’t keep appearing immediately, reducing obvious repetition during longer sessions. Stage transitions have received fixes too, covering scenery and palette errors capable of appearing as the game moved between randomly selected sections.

Starting another game now clears previous run information correctly. Players can pick a random opening stage as well, so Endless Mode no longer needs to begin from the same familiar section every time. It’s a collection of changes aimed at one thing: making an endless run behave like an endless run.

You can make Endless Mode surprisingly mean

The new update introduces a dedicated Endless Settings menu, and this is where things get more interesting. Starting time can be changed. Checkpoint bonuses can be changed. Players can set how much checkpoint time drops during a run, along with a minimum value once the difficulty starts squeezing harder.

Traffic works in much the same way. You can choose how busy the road is at the start, how quickly traffic increases and where its maximum sits. So you can create a relatively relaxed long-distance run, or build something far less forgiving, where the clock gets tighter and roads become busier with each stage. It gives Endless Mode its own identity rather than leaving it as OutRun with an extended stage counter.

Cannonball DX already includes the original game structure, Japanese mode, Continuous Mode, Endless Mode and Time Trial. With the new update, Endless Mode gets much closer to being a proper alternative way to play.

High scores stop getting confused

Longer modes need reliable score tracking, and the new update cleans up several problems here. Initial entry and score-table handling have been corrected for Endless Mode. Scores from abandoned games should no longer creep into later sessions, and runs played with the timer switched off are now handled correctly.

Time Trial gets its own cleanup. Events are capped at three laps, record handling has been revised and the rankings now stick to the intended Top 10. Course selection screens have received fixes for widescreen and ultrawide displays too, which matters more here than it might sound. Cannonball DX supports 4:3, 16:9 and 21:9, so menus need to cope with a fairly wide range of PC monitor setups.

Racing wheels get some attention

Cannonball DX has extensive steering-wheel support, including setups where a wheel, pedals and shifter appear as separate USB devices. The new update fixes compatibility issues involving BackForceFeeder and vJoy configurations. It corrects centring-spring initialisation for virtual force-feedback devices and removes unnecessary spring restarts during start-up.

The existing force-feedback setup covers cornering, tyre slip, road surfaces, off-road sections, gear changes, crashes and spins. Gamepads remain supported separately, so none of this requires a dedicated driving rig. For anyone running an arcade-style PC setup, these fixes are likely to be among the more noticeable parts of the update.

Ultrawide stays firmly on the menu

Cannonball DX can run at 30 or 60fps and supports 4:3, 16:9 and 21:9 displays. There are scaling options, CRT-style filters and several presentation tweaks for players who prefer a cleaner image or something closer to an older display.

The new update doesn’t reinvent this side of the software. It fixes smaller presentation problems instead. One new option corrects the Ferrari badge and number plate when the car sprite is mirrored during left turns. Players who prefer the original presentation can leave the correction switched off. It’s a small touch, but one in keeping with the rest of the update.

Cannonball DX’s new update is mostly about finishing the extra modes properly

Cannonball DX’s new update isn’t trying to remake OutRun again. The arcade driving remains at the centre, with the update concentrating on everything built around it. Endless Mode gets the largest overhaul, gaining proper long-run progression, randomised stages and far more control over time and traffic. Time Trial gets cleaner records. Wheel users get better virtual-device support. Widescreen users get a few irritating visual issues cleared up.

The current build targets 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11. Original OutRun Revision B game data is still required, either through extracted ROM files or a suitable MAME archive. The headline is simple: Cannonball DX’s expanded game modes are getting much more serious.

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