While it’s not exactly news that a full TimeSplitters 2 4K port is hidden within the Homefront: The Revolution code, it seems that some new information and more levels have been found. The problem is, the key to access all of the hidden TimeSplitters content was lost on the internet a few years ago.
TimeSplitters 2 was a first-person shooter for the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox back in 2002. Players would need to complete objectives with an array of different weapons and tactics. Over the years, the game has become somewhat of a cult classic, going down in multiplayer split-screen gaming history with titles like GoldenEye 007 and the original Medal of Honor. While the graphics may look dated compared to the games made today, many fans still enjoy looking back at this period of time with great nostalgia.
This new information was brought to light by a former Crytek developer Matt Phillips. He responded to a Tweet by ex-Vlambeer designed JW Nijman asking for developers to share hidden easter eggs they’ve put in games. Phillips responded, stating that he had hidden a fully playable, native 4K port of TimeSplitters 2 in an arcade machine in Homefront: The Revolution. He even managed to port the network stack to ride on top of Homefront: The Revolution’s co-op mode, making it theoretically possible for players to boot to the multiplayer menu on the arcade machine (but only if they managed to hack two or more arcades into one of the co-op maps). Unfortunately, most of the TimeSplitters 2 content is inaccessible after the code to access the game beyond the first two levels has been lost to time.
According to Phillips’ Twitter feed, the code has been lost to time, with the original notebook where he wrote it down is now gone. Supposedly, Phillips shared the code with a friend, who posted it online in a Discord channel a while ago, but the friend’s post was considered to be fake, and his account was banned from the channel. The discord channel will go down in TimeSplitters 2 history for losing the one and only existing copy of the code to access the content.
The only hope now is if some skilled hacker tries to force their way into the TimeSplitters 2 easter egg now that the knowledge that this content is out there. Fans of the 2002 FPS game will be holding their breath in the meantime, eagerly awaiting the day they can play these locked levels in remastered 4k.
Homefront: The Revolution is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: Matt Phillips