FunTuna and Fortuna for Late PS2 Slim SCPH-9000x
Late PS2 Slim consoles cannot boot standard FreeMCBoot on their own, because Sony removed the update behaviour that FreeMCBoot relies on. Fortuna and its FunTuna variant work around that limit with a different trigger: instead of booting automatically at power-on, homebrew is launched manually from the console’s own system browser. If you have a late SCPH-90000 Slim, this is the route to understand before you waste time on a standard install that can never boot on its own on your hardware. This guide explains which consoles are affected, how the trigger works, and how to set it up without overstating what the package contains.
The direct answer
If your Slim is a late SCPH-90000 model made from the third quarter of 2008 onwards, with boot ROM version 2.30 or newer, use Fortuna or FunTuna, not a standard FreeMCBoot install. You prepare a memory card with the Fortuna or FunTuna package, boot the console normally, open the system browser, select the memory card, and back out to the main menu, which triggers the homebrew launcher. It is a manual step on every use, and that manual step is the price of running homebrew on hardware that no longer supports automatic memory card booting.
Which consoles are affected, and how to be sure
FreeMCBoot works on most PS2 consoles, but the exception is specific: late SCPH-90000 Slim models from the third quarter of 2008 onwards, which are usually R-chassis models, with boot ROM 2.30 or newer, plus the PS2 TV. The transition happened during production, so datecode 8C alone does not settle it. Consoles with datecode 8C may or may not be affected, depending on when the patch landed in their production run, and the reliable check is the ROM version. See How to Check Your PS2 Model, Datecode, and ROM Version for how to find the model number, the datecode, and the ROM version, and do that check before choosing a route.
Fortuna itself, released by krat0s in 2019, covers a wide range: from ROM version 1.90, which corresponds to SCPH-18000, through to the last models, including the PS2 TV. It has not been ported to the earliest 10k and 15k models, so those consoles are outside Fortuna’s scope, but they are also not late Slims, and standard FreeMCBoot is the relevant route there. FunTuna is a Fortuna-based variant package aimed at late Slims, and this guide treats it at that level: a package that uses the Fortuna trigger approach for SCPH-9000x consoles. The exact contents of any particular FunTuna package vary by release, so follow the instructions included with the package you actually use, and do not assume a file list from another package or another site applies to yours.
How the manual trigger works
Standard FreeMCBoot replaces the normal browser start-up behaviour, so the custom menu appears automatically. On a late Slim, that automatic path is closed, because the console no longer supports the update mechanism FreeMCBoot depends on. Fortuna instead uses a vulnerability in how the system browser handles memory card data. The practical sequence is: boot the console normally, open the browser, select the memory card, then back out to the main menu. Backing out is the trigger step, and it launches the homebrew environment. That is why guides describe Fortuna as a manual trigger rather than an auto-boot: you repeat the browser step each time you want to enter homebrew, instead of the console doing it for you at power-on.
This difference has everyday consequences worth knowing in advance. A console with Fortuna or FunTuna will look completely normal when switched on, which is expected, not a fault. Family members or guests who just want to play a disc will not be confronted with a custom menu unless they perform the trigger. Conversely, if you expect an automatic menu and do not perform the trigger, you will conclude, wrongly, that the install failed. Judge success by whether the trigger sequence launches homebrew, not by what happens at power-on.
What you need
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| A late SCPH-90000 Slim, or another Fortuna-supported console | Confirm model, datecode, and ROM version first |
| A PS2 memory card | An official Sony 8MB card is the most reliable choice |
| A way to write files to the card | A PC adapter, an already-modified console, or another entry point, depending on the package |
| The Fortuna or FunTuna package | Follow the instructions included with the package you use |
| A USB drive, if your package needs one | For carrying files to the console, depending on the setup |
For the card, use a blank 8MB card where possible, and keep saves on a second card, because preparing a launcher card can involve formatting, which erases saves. A suitable blank card can be found through this memory card link. Do not buy a card sold with software or games preloaded; build the card from the package yourself, so you know what is on it.
Step 2: Prepare the memory card
Prepare the card exactly as the package instructs, using whatever writing method that package supports. Some packages are written from a computer with an adapter, as in Install FreeMCBoot from a PC with a PS3MCA Memory Card Adapter, while others are installed from a console that can already run homebrew. Do not improvise the folder layout, and do not mix files from a standard FreeMCBoot install into a Fortuna card, or vice versa, because the two approaches use different mechanisms. If the preparation step involves formatting the card, back up saves first. Keep the package archive on your computer after preparation, so you can rebuild the card without hunting for the files again.
Step 3: Perform the trigger and check the result
Insert the prepared card, boot the console normally, and open the system browser. Select the memory card, then back out to the main menu, which should trigger the homebrew launcher. If the launcher appears, the setup works, and you can then launch the applications you have added, such as Open PS2 Loader or a file manager, following Open PS2 Loader Setup: USB, SMB, and HDD Modes. If nothing happens, do not immediately rebuild the card; first check that you performed the back-out step correctly, that the card is in the slot the package expects, and that the console really is in the supported range. A trigger that is performed slightly wrong looks identical to a broken install.
Frequently asked questions
Is FunTuna the same as FreeMCBoot?
No. FunTuna is a Fortuna-based variant package for late Slims, while FreeMCBoot is a memory card launcher that auto-boots on compatible consoles. They solve different problems on different hardware, even though both end up launching homebrew.
Do I have to do the browser trigger every time?
Yes. On Fortuna and FunTuna, the trigger is manual on each session. The console boots normally otherwise, which is expected behaviour for this route.
Can I convert a late Slim to auto-boot by installing standard FreeMCBoot as well?
No. The hardware limit that blocks auto-boot on late Slims is not removed by adding a standard install, and mixing the two approaches on one card is likely to cause confusion. Use one approach per card.
Does Fortuna work on the earliest PS2 models?
No. Fortuna has not been ported to the 10k and 15k models. Those consoles are outside its scope, and standard FreeMCBoot is the relevant route there.
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