What Is OnlineCTR?

Updated

OnlineCTR is a fan-made project that adds online multiplayer to the original PlayStation 1 version of Crash Team Racing (CTR), the 1999 arcade racer from Naughty Dog. It works by reverse engineering the original game's assembly and machine code back into C, then rebuilding it for networked play without changing the core gameplay. You play using your own retail copy of the game plus the project's patch, and it is free to play.

How OnlineCTR Works

The project's stated approach is to disassemble the original Naughty Dog code and reconstruct it in C, then add networking on top. This is why the game still plays like the CTR you remember rather than a remake or a clone.

Key technical points from the project:

  • Reverse engineered, not remade — the original game code was rebuilt for online play.
  • Runs under DuckStation — the emulator is available on GitHub for download.
  • Networking written from scratch — the developers say this eliminates the desynching common in peer-to-peer setups like Kaillera.
  • Open source — the full CTR source code is on GitHub, and anyone can fork, edit, or submit fixes and improvements.

What You Get

Feature Detail
Online players Up to 8 per race
Frame rate 60 FPS
Screen mode Full screen and widescreen, no split-screen, no polygon reduction
Unlocks All tracks and all characters unlocked by default
Username Choose your own
Servers Dedicated servers in multiple countries, plus local LAN hosting
Cost Free to play (you supply your own retail copy of the game)

Servers and Player Activity

OnlineCTR runs dedicated servers in several regions. At the time of the site's snapshot, the server list showed:

  • AUS1 — 4 online
  • BRZ1 — 2 online
  • EUR1 — 0 online
  • MEX1 — offline
  • SGP1 — offline
  • USA1 — 0 online

The same snapshot reported 6 players online and 152 seen in the past 24 hours. Treat these numbers as a point-in-time reading, not a guarantee of current activity — check the live server list before planning a session.

How to Get Started

  1. Get DuckStation — download the emulator from GitHub.
  2. Use your own retail copy of CTR — the project requires your own copy of the game.
  3. Apply the OnlineCTR patch — this is what enables online play.
  4. Pick a server — choose a dedicated server in your region, or host locally over LAN.
  5. Set up and race — find players, select a track, choose a character, and race.

The site's own summary of the flow: Find Players. Select a Track. Choose a Character. Race.

Community and Support

OnlineCTR has a Discord server where you can find other players, organise races, make friends, and report issues directly to administrators. The site also links to source code and support resources.

Who This Is For

OnlineCTR suits you if you already own the original CTR and want to race it online with up to 8 players, with modern conveniences like 60 FPS, widescreen, and everything unlocked. It is not a standalone game you can download and play without the original title, and it is an unofficial fan project rather than a Naughty Dog release.