Fan quietly releases native PC port of Super Mario 64

[Shawn Knight]

Editor's take: A fan-made PC port of Super Mario 64 quietly surfaced over the weekend and is gaining mainstream attention today. Unsurprisingly, the game is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. A 4K clip of it over on YouTube pretty much depicts how you remember the game (but not how it actually was on the N64). It's too bad that Nintendo is going to take it down in 3... 2... 1...

According to Video Games Chronicle, the DirectX 12 port isn’t simply an emulation of the original Nintendo 64 hardware the game ran on but rather, a native port of the title designed specifically for the PC. As such, users are able to crank the resolution (so long as their hardware permits) and even run it with ultra-widescreen support.

The publication speculates that the port is the result of a 2019 project that saw fans reverse engineer the game’s source code. This same project was also responsible for identifying a smoke glitch that went undetected since the game’s 1996 debut.

In related news, several publications are also reporting on the leak of more than two terabytes of data on 4chan over the weekend. VGC said the haul included the source code for the Nintendo 64, the GameCube and the Wii as well as documents and diagrams related to every system component. It’s unclear if there is any link between the fan-made port and the 4chan leak, or if the timing just happens to be a coincidence.

On a more positive note, Nintendo is said to be working on its own remaster of Super Mario 64 for the franchise's 35th anniversary.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/85093-fan-quietly-releases-native-pc-port-super-mario.html

 

[amstech]

Love your passion for games Shawn! Keep it rolling brotha.

 

[penn919]

Can't wait for the Digital Foundry comparisons...especially against the announced remaster.

 

[Soulburn74]

I love when people homebrew such wonders, I'm torn when I read about them though, as I know once the story hits mainstream news sites, they are definitely getting the cease and desist order.....
.

 

[Lionvibez]

I love when people homebrew such wonders, I'm torn when I read about them though, as I know once the story hits mainstream news sites, they are definitely getting the cease and desist order.....
.

If you folllow the rabbit hole on this its not based on the leaked code it should be fine.

 

[Soulburn74]

If you folllow the rabbit hole on this its not based on the leaked code it should be fine.

I did, and have been enjoying it

 

[Angga B]

Somebody got to make it the first time. The game revolutionize 3D immensely and I suspect everyone now somehow somewhat pay some royalty to use whatever patents Nintendo created, in camera views, controller layouts, game engines, etc.

 

[Thrackerzod]

If you folllow the rabbit hole on this its not based on the leaked code it should be fine.

It doesn't matter if it uses the leaked code or not, it is still Nintendo's IP so they'll definitely take it down. They even took down a fan made Super Mario Bros. game for the Commodore 64 last year.

 

[polord]

A vr version like lucky tale could be nice..

 

[Lionvibez]

It doesn't matter if it uses the leaked code or not, it is still Nintendo's IP so they'll definitely take it down. They even took down a fan made Super Mario Bros. game for the Commodore 64 last year.

Even if that is the case its too late now its all over the internet.

 

[Homerlovesbeer]

Where does one download to play this?

 

[penn919]

Where does one download to play this?

Due to liability concerns, no one can answer that directly, but the article does mention 4chan. Perhaps you can start your "investigation" over there.

 

[Lionvibez]

I must say I had this running on emulation before and this version is much better been enjoying it so far.

 

[Danny101]

A F.aM.L.iT. game. Fan Made. Limited Time.