While the idea of playing Super Mario on PS4 is enticing, it remains unlikely that an official Super Mario game will be released on the console. Nintendo's commitment to exclusivity and their focus on promoting their own hardware means that Super Mario games will continue to be a Nintendo-exclusive experience.

Some users obtain PKG files through official channels like the PlayStation Store, where they are downloaded directly to the console and installed automatically.

: Copy the resulting PKG file to a USB drive formatted to exFAT

Many homebrew developers release "all-in-one" PKG files containing emulators for NES, SNES, and GBA. These often come pre-loaded with classic titles like Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World Fan-Made Projects: There are fan-built remakes and " Super Mario Fanon

Select the listed Mario PKG file from the list. The console will install the game to your internal storage, creating a permanent launch icon directly on your main PlayStation home screen. Alternative Ways to Play Mario on PS4

The internet is rife with clickbait videos and dodgy forum posts claiming to have "ported" Odyssey to the PS4. In 99% of cases, these are hoaxes, viruses, or scams designed to harvest ad revenue. While the PS4 and the Switch share similar x86 architecture (making the Switch easier to hack), the proprietary operating systems are too different to allow a simple "drag and drop" port. The PS4 simply cannot emulate the Switch's hardware efficiently enough to play modern Mario titles.

: With the PS4 jailbroken, insert the USB drive, navigate to GoldHEN > Debug Settings > Package Installer, and install the PKG

However, the homebrew community has found ways to bring Mario to PS4 through two primary methods:

PS4 jailbreaks are firmware-specific. As of now, commonly supported firmware ranges include , and select later versions depending on exploit availability. The Super Mario 64 port has been confirmed to work on PS4 9.00 jailbroken consoles.

To understand why a native “Super Mario PS4 PKG” is impossible, one must first understand what a PKG file is. PKG is the standard installation package format for Sony’s PlayStation consoles, including the PS4 and PS5. When a user downloads a digital game from the PlayStation Store or installs a disc, the system unpacks a PKG file to write the game data to the hard drive. Crucially, these files are encrypted with Sony-specific keys and digitally signed to prevent unauthorized software from running. A PS4 is designed to reject any PKG that lacks the correct cryptographic signature from Sony. Therefore, for a Super Mario game to exist as a legitimate PS4 PKG, Nintendo would have to license its most valuable intellectual property to its direct competitor, Sony—a scenario akin to Coca-Cola bottling Pepsi.

As the PS4 enters its twilight years following the PS5's release, the homebrew scene remains active but faces challenges.