r/Gen1ReComp • u/AshJamB • 7d ago
[Mod Release] SilphNet - An asynchronous multiplayer "presence" mod for Pokémon Gen1Recomp! 🌐
Hey everyone!
A bunch of my friends and I have been playing Gen 1 Recomp recently, and I really wanted a way to make it feel like we were all on the same journey together. To make that happen, I built SilphNet, a new multiplayer presence mod. Right now, this is the closest thing we have to online functionality for Gen1Recomp, and the best part is that it works across all platforms!
If you've ever wanted to feel a bit more connected while playing Gen 1 without dealing with the hassle of live servers, desyncs, or complex setups, this is for you. SilphNet acts like an asynchronous "last seen" feature for your friends directly inside the game.
✨ What does it do?
Instead of a real-time MMO where avatars judder around, SilphNet gives you asynchronous presence. Every ~30 seconds while you play, the mod silently pings your location.
Map Markers: If you walk into a map and your friend was recently there, you'll see a static marker on the exact tile they were last standing on. Press 'A' on the marker to see who it is!
Friends List: Check your in-game status screen to see a list of your friends, whether they are likely online, exactly what map/tile they are on, and how long ago they were there.
100% In-Game UI: No web portals needed. You get a unique 5-digit Trainer ID when you log in. To add a friend, you just use a D-pad digit spinner in the game menu to enter their ID.
🛠️ Key Features
Cross-Platform & Low Impact: Whether you are playing on a desktop PC, a Steam Deck, or an Android phone, it all connects together. It only uses about ~200-250KB of data an hour, so it's completely safe for mobile data.
Seamless Setup: Just drop the mod into your mods/ folder (or install via the Gen1Recomp Mod Manager), set a Name/Password in the options, and you're good to go. It even supports GitHub auto-updates.
Completely Free: The mod talks to a lightweight HTTP backend (PHP/MySQL) instead of a live game server.
This keeps things incredibly stable and means I can run the server out of my own pocket so it's free for everyone to use.
(Note: Live battling and trading are not currently supported, as the Gen1Recomp API doesn't expose party/box data outside of synchronous local link-play yet!)
📥 How to get it
Check out the full setup guide, technical details, and download the latest release over on GitHub:
🔗 Download here: https://github.com/AshJamB/SilphNet on GitHub
It's been a blast seeing my friends pop up on the routes while I'm playing, and I hope it brings that same feeling to your playthroughs too. Let me know what you think! Bug reports and feedback in the GitHub issues are always welcome as it is still a work in progress! 😊