Skating Past Security: How Tony Hawk Games Hacked the Hardware

When Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was released in 1999, it quickly became a standout title in the gaming world. With intuitive controls, a memorable soundtrack, and gameplay that was accessible yet rewarding to master, it introduced the world of skateboarding to a much wider audience. What many may not realise is that beyond its impact on gaming culture, the series also found an unexpected role in the world of console hacking.

Buffer Overruns and Console Exploits

Several Tony Hawk titles across different generations of consoles became prime targets for security researchers and modders. Through vulnerabilities typically found in user-generated content features—such as custom skaters and parks—attackers discovered they could exploit a flaw known as a buffer overrun. By inputting data longer than a system was designed to handle, they were able to force the console to execute unauthorised code. Often this required nothing more than a specially crafted save file.

Unlocking New Possibilities

These exploits opened up a range of possibilities for users. Once the vulnerabilities were leveraged, players could run homebrew applications, access games that were otherwise region-locked, and boot "backed up" copies of titles. It effectively bypassed many of the restrictions imposed by console manufacturers, giving users more control over their hardware.

TonyHax and Beyond

One well-known example is TonyHax, an exploit for the original PlayStation that used Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, 3, or 4. This method allowed players to boot games from burned CDs without the need for physical hardware modifications. More advanced techniques followed, including the use of American Wasteland on the Xbox 360 to bypass Microsoft’s hypervisor security—a feat once believed to be impossible without a hardware mod. Even today, these exploits continue to be refined, cementing the Tony Hawk series' unexpected legacy in the console modding community.