Modder Brings Super Mario 64 to PS2 with Co-op and Online Multiplayer, Thanks to PS1 Chip Magic: “It Exceeded My Expectations”

You’re now subscribed!

Your newsletter sign-up was successful.

Want to add more newsletters?

Get ready for your weekly dose of everything you need to know about the games you adore, upcoming titles we think you’ll fall in love with, and stories from the vibrant communities that support them.

Our dedicated GTA 6 newsletter brings you the latest news, insider insights, and rumor breakdowns from the experts in the field.

From the minds behind Edge comes a weekly newsletter focused on the gaming industry, featuring analysis from seasoned writers, advice from industry professionals, and a glimpse into what’s on the horizon.

Tech enthusiasts, join our free tech newsletter for a weekly roundup of the hottest gadgets, the latest innovations, and much more.

Subscribe to our new Switch 2 newsletter for weekly updates on Nintendo’s upcoming console, including news highlights and game recommendations.

Stay informed with a weekly digest of essential movie and TV news delivered straight to your inbox. From first-look trailers to interviews and reviews, we’ve got you covered.

Get exclusive previews, competitions, and details about special events each month!

Imagine adding local co-op to Super Mario 64—now that would be impressive. Taking it online would be a whole new level of amazing. And getting this classic platformer to run on a PS2? That’s another feat altogether. But doing all three? That’s the kind of legendary modding achievement that YouTube’s Carl Does Tech Things has pulled off.

Running Super Mario 64 on a PS2 was the easy part, thanks to the many ports that emerged after its decompilation. However, when Carl dives into his efforts to implement multiplayer in the video below, it’s truly mind-blowing.

To enable backward compatibility with PS1 games, Sony essentially included a full PS1 console in every PS2. Instead of using a standard PS2 network adapter, Carl connects a Pico 2—a compact Raspberry Pi device—via USB. He utilizes the PS1 CPU to manage network instructions between the game on the PS2 and the Pico that connects it to the network.

On the N64 side, Carl employs a customized N64 cartridge he previously built with another Pico integrated. He then ‘simply’ adds a second Mario to each game and transmits the position data of the extra Mario between the two game instances.

Of course, it’s not as straightforward as it sounds, and Carl provides an entertaining look at his troubleshooting journey for each challenge he encounters. One of the standout moments? The initial frame rate differences between the N64 and PS2 caused the animations to desync. That’s technology for you!

In the end, this makeshift project works. Carl notes, “it works much better than I thought it was going to.” By the conclusion, he has created a co-op mod for Mario 64 that allows for proper crossplay between two consoles that predate the online gaming boom. Is there a better tribute to the passion of modders than crafting something so seemingly unnecessary yet so beautifully executed?

The best N64 games are always worth revisiting.