No, there's no typo in the title. It's 2020 and Sony's second home console, the PlayStation 2, got a new exploit; and an interesting one at that! Aptly named FreeDVDBoot, this exploit allows users to run burnt homebrew games on an unmodified PS2. Just slide in a DVD into the console as you would with any other game and boot it without any additional tools.

@CTurt , the software engineer behind FreeDVDBoot and fellow GBAtemp member, explained in length his method that exploits the console's DVD player functionality in a blog post. He also made all of FreeDVDBoot's code available on GitHub, along with a step-by-step guide.

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In case you're wondering about actual PS2 games rather than homebrew titles, yes, FreeDVDBoot also enables you to run backup copy of those. CTurt shared a video using his exploit to run a backup of Shadow of the Colossus:

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It doesn't end there either. CTurt further goes on to speculate that this method could potentially work on every single PlayStation home consoles and that he will investigate this possibility in the future:

There's really no reason this general attack scenario is specific to the PlayStation 2 as all generations support some combination of burned media: from the PlayStation 1's CD support, to the PlayStation 3 and 4's Blu-ray support, with the PlayStation 4 having only removed CD support. Hacking the PS4 through Blu-ray BD-J functionality has long been discussed as an idea for an entry point. This may be something I would be interested in looking into for a long-term future project: imagine being able to burn your own PlayStation games for all generations; 1 down, 3 to go...

SOURCE
FreeDVDBoot code and guide on GitHub

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

No, you can raw copy an image preinstalled with FHDB onto HDD, and put it inside the PS2.

You can also use existing multi-elf games to use as a swap disc to boot FMCBInstaller.

Here is a nice guide: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/tutorial-the-great-ps2-aio-guide.30219/

To install FreeMcboot, you need a way to boot the installer. This can only be done via the various gameshark/action replay/swap magic discs, or methods that require additional hardware like the PS3 memory card adapter or a network adapter for FHDB and such. At some point you will need to spend money on something to run the installer. This lets you do it for 0 money down, period.

Again, at some point you would've need to spent money on something to run the installer. You assume everyone has a Network adapter, but that's not the case.

 

[TunaKetchup]

had no idea he's on GBAtemp too! If there's a thread about FreeDVDBoot, I'll happily link it to the main post and lock this one.

This thread was made yesterday shortly after the announcement

https://gbatemp.net/threads/freedvdboot-new-ps2-exploit.568515/

 

[Spider_Man]

After downloading freemcboot, how would you install it for free?

easy, doesnt cost you to buy it now does it.

download and install, simple.

To install FreeMcboot, you need a way to boot the installer. This can only be done via the various gameshark/action replay/swap magic discs, or methods that require additional hardware like the PS3 memory card adapter or a network adapter for FHDB and such. At some point you will need to spend money on something to run the installer. This lets you do it for 0 money down, period.

you both completely miss the point, topic says without modchip.

to which i said can already be done, and yes it is free, it also is compatible on all consoles and regions, this method is yet to be confirmed.

yes its always nice to hear of new methods, but this also (using your logic) does not come without a cost does it, i mean dvd burner, disc.

most people already own an action replay or similar, or even swap magic.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

easy, doesnt cost you to buy it now does it.

download and install, simple.

you both completely miss the point, topic says without modchip.

?? That's not the point of the news at all, that's just a bad title The point is you can now boot homebrew without use of any external device beyond a burnt DVD, a complete an absolute first for the PS2.

 

[Spider_Man]

?? That's not the point of the news at all, that's just a bad title The point is you can now boot homebrew without use of any external device beyond a burnt DVD, a complete an absolute first for the PS2.

well my point was to the title, ps2 consoles can already be modded without a modchip and it is free to do.

i recall quotes then coming saying its not free.

but is an interesting feature but ive no need as ive got mine running fine with fmbc running iso files off my hdd

 

[Bladexdsl]

too little too late

 

[duwen]

Awesome!
I presume that this will also allow for running out-of-region legit disks too - that was the only major benefit a modchip had over FreeMcBoot... my stack of original Japanese disks will be very happy

edit

No... it won't... just read the git... it basically incorporates a custom loader on a burned disk. Useless for legit import loading

 

[Kwyjor]

After downloading freemcboot, how would you install it for free?

Like the post above says, you need to do some kind of disc-swapping trick. One exploit involves 007: Agent Under Fire, whereby you need to open up the tray at a particular point and swap in a burned disc.

I don't know why the blog post linked in the OP says you need to "open up the console to block the disc tray sensors", as it is my understanding that people usually jab some pieces of plastic or cardboard into the tray mechanism to open it up.

It is of course much simpler to find someone else who already has Free McBoot, since it is easy to copy it to a new memory card.

 

[Deleted User]

This is awesome, but I have a question for the author.

Could this be used to burn a/multiple psx games onto a DVD, booting them up with this format?

Self booting psx burns would be absolutely awesome for the ps2, especially so if multiple games could be burned together (think a menu with all 3 spyrp games available, or crash 1-2-3-CTR-Bash, ect ect all contained on 1single self booting disk).

 

[spectral]

easy, doesnt cost you to buy it now does it.

download and install, simple.

you both completely miss the point, topic says without modchip.

to which i said can already be done, and yes it is free, it also is compatible on all consoles and regions, this method is yet to be confirmed.

yes its always nice to hear of new methods, but this also (using your logic) does not come without a cost does it, i mean dvd burner, disc.

most people already own an action replay or similar, or even swap magic.

OK, so someone has a phat PS2. No network adapter, no action replay or game with an exploit. Whats the free way they can install Freemcboot? Other than this new method? Also no, most people dont already own AR or swap magic, most people dont even know what those are. It is a valid point that these days not everyone has a DVD/CD burner anymore though, so yeah this also isn't necessarily free for everyone. Still, they're far more common than the other methods.

 

[Mythical]

Nice! too bad my ps2 can only read cd-rom discs and not dvd discs :/

 

[MetoMeto]

How do you do this again?

 

[Lightyose]

Is there any PS2 homebrew for making save backups from a real Memory Card to an external storage device, or do I DEFINITELY need something else?

Trying to help someone.

 

[duwen]

Is there any PS2 homebrew for making save backups from a real Memory Card to an external storage device, or do I DEFINITELY need something else?

Trying to help someone.

Yeah, it's all part of the elf manager stuff in FreeMcBoot/FreeHDBoot

 

[raxadian]

I have a late model PS2 that only plays games, I don't know if it's chipped or not. I wonder if this exploit works on it?

 

[playstays_shun]

Imagine if this was discovered the same time Dreamcast was busted wide open with those MILCD self booting discs.

Might've leveled the playing field / given Sega a fighting chance.

Still doubt it though, I think Sega was plagued by market share and lack of popularity vs. Nintendo and Sony, and the previous commercial failure that was Saturn (outside of Japan)

 

[RobertX]

Will this exploit be a one-time installer, or do you have to boot it up before inserting a game, which was what Dreamcast did?

 

[PikachuPrincess23]

Which DVD should I use to make exploit work? I need to know it to buy the right DVD burner

 

[AkikoKumagara]

To install FreeMcboot, you need a way to boot the installer. This can only be done via the various gameshark/action replay/swap magic discs, or methods that require additional hardware like the PS3 memory card adapter or a network adapter for FHDB and such. At some point you will need to spend money on something to run the installer. This lets you do it for 0 money down, period.

DVD+/-R isn't free, but I still think this is a really simple approach that's a lot more doable for the average person.

 

[DinohScene]

I can finally retire me Memor32!