Can You Use a PS1 GameShark on PS2? No—They're Incompatible

PS1 GameShark devices (cartridge or disc-based) do not work on the PlayStation 2. If you're hoping to cheat in PS2 games using your old PS1 GameShark, it won't happen. Here's why.

Technical Incompatibilities

• Different Memory Architecture: The PS1 and PS2 have completely different memory maps, CPU registers, and I/O systems. A GameShark designed for PS1 memory addresses knows nothing about PS2 memory.
• Memory Card Formats: PS1 GameSharks save cheat codes to PS1 memory cards (8 MB, MagicGate). The PS2 can read PS1 cards for PS1 game saves, but it cannot execute PS1 cheat software in PS2 mode—the PS2's "PS1 emulation" environment doesn't expose the hooks GameShark needs.
• Software Execution Model: PS2 games are ELF binaries running on the EE (Emotion Engine). PS1 GameShark patches PS1 MIPS executables. The instruction sets and syscalls are unrelated.

What You Need Instead

For PS2 cheats, you need a PS2-specific cheat device:

• Action Replay Max / Action Replay for PS2 (most common, disc-based)
• GameShark for PS2 (distinct product from PS1 version)
• CodeBreaker (another popular PS2 cheat disc)
• FreeMCBoot + OPL / Cheat apps (Homebrew): Modern, free, supports extensive code databases. Requires a memory card exploit install.

PS1 GameShark on PS2: impossible. Get the right tool for the right console.