Some emulators (e.g., Exodus, BlastEm with GDB stub) can load raw .68k code at a specific address, skipping the boot ROM.
Most modern Sonic 2 hacks—such as Sonic 2: Long Version, Sonic 2: Absolute, or even original fangames using the engine—start by compiling sonic2-w.68k. Hackers modify the .68k file directly, adding new moves (like the drop dash), new characters (Amy, Metal Sonic), or even split-screen multiplayer.
The file sonic2-w.68k is a source code file written in Motorola 68000 assembly language. It is historically linked to the "Simon Wai Prototype" of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, a famous early build of the game discovered in 1999. This file likely contains the main game loop, physics engine code, or object handling routines for that specific version of the game.