The modding community released version 2.0 of Better Super Mario Sunshine Online on PC via Dolphin, allowing players to explore Isle Delfino with up to ten people with synchronized progress and support for Super Mario Eclipse.
The project led by modder Daytendo 64, a member of the Super Mario Elements community, achieved a major technical milestone by updating its online network mod for the classic Nintendo GameCube platformer. This new build was revealed as the final surprise during the community event Sunshine Showcase, expanding the collaborative gameplay experience in substantial ways.
Full Co-op and Synchronized Progression
One of the main highlights of Better Super Mario Sunshine Online is how it handles the main campaign. Rather than merely placing character models in an empty level, the modification synchronizes collected Shine Sprites, blue coins, narrative progression, and plaza states across all connected players in real time. This network structure ensures that anyone who joins an ongoing room immediately adopts the current world status without disrupting the session.
The initiative originally started as a response to technical frustrations and the prolonged stagnation of older community online projects. As its developer explained, long update droughts, persistent connection drops, and widespread bugs in previous alternatives inspired him to rebuild the netplay experience from the ground up. With version 2.0, the client introduces significant stability and performance patches, alongside custom social areas like a dedicated lobby where players can gather before heading out into stages.
Fresh Game Modes and Expanded Mod Support
Beyond traditional campaign cooperation, the update delivers an assortment of party and competitive activities. Alongside an established hide-and-seek mode with custom grace periods and random map picking, players can now engage in Manhunt, Speedrun contests, Geoguessr challenges, and Tag.
The mod's flexibility has also expanded significantly in terms of compatibility. Version 2.0 delivers native support for prominent fan creations, most notably Super Mario Eclipse, the massive community expansion that expands Sunshine's narrative and levels. It is also fully compatible with projects such as Super Mario Sunset, Super Mario Tropical Freeze, and Azack SMS Randomiser.
On the character front, the roster of playable models has grown even further. Joining familiar options like Mario, Luigi, Waluigi, Sonic, and Shadow are new arrivals such as Princess Peach, Daisy, Toad, Toadette, Toadsworth, Professor E. Gadd, Amy, and Silver the Hedgehog, plus dedicated Eclipse skins like Il Piantissimo and Shadow Mario. To jump in, players simply need a PC running the Dolphin emulator, the free files distributed on GameBanana, and a legally sourced NTSC-U ROM of Super Mario Sunshine.