PlayStation 2 Protection Fully Hacked 26 Years After Console Launch

The last uncracked protection system of the PlayStation 2 has been bypassed 26 years after the console’s release, following four years of work by modder DiscoStarslayer and user Libby.

The PlayStation 2 was released in 2000, and parts of its security had remained untouched until now. This refers to the MechaCon (“Mechanic Controller”) chip, which handles disc drive management, KELF file decryption, and MagicGate identification and authorization.

DiscoStarslayer managed to remove the MechaCon casing and examine the internal structure of its circuits. After four years of work, the modder discovered a vulnerability that allows the chip’s protection to be bypassed via software.

The discovery could aid the further development of PS2 emulation and expand the possibilities for using alternative optical disc drives on the console. DiscoStarslayer published the results of the work publicly on GitHub.