The

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a di ...

Link Cable (SCPH-1040) is a peripheral cable for the

console. Utilizing the serial I/O port found on the back of most PlayStation models, it allows for two consoles to be connected in order to play compatible multiplayer games on separate consoles. It was released during the 1995

Christmas shopping season The Christmas season or the festive season (also known in some countries as the holiday season or the holidays) is an annually recurring period recognized in many Western and other countries that is generally considered to run from late Novembe ...

. The cable is a 12-pin inline serial cable that plugs directly into the back of the PlayStation console and was a fully supported Sony accessory for the market life of the console. Because it was only designed for original PlayStation models, it's not compatible with the redesigned

PS one A number of models of Sony's PlayStation (PS) video game console were produced. Revisions of standard PlayStation hardware The PlayStation went through a number of variants during its production run, each accompanied by a change in the part ...

, nor with succeeding PlayStation consoles such as the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on ...

. The main advantage to using the cable was that a split-screen wouldn't be necessary for multiplayer, increasing each player's screen size and potentially increasing game performance (as only one view has to be rendered per console). However, the use of this cable requires two televisions, two PlayStations (with appropriate cables), and two copies of the game being played (with the exception of '' Armored Core: Master of Arena'', '' Command & Conquer: Red Alert,'' '' Command & Conquer: Red Alert: Retaliation'' and Mobile Suit Z Gundam/NTSC-J which require only one copy as the games come with two discs). This expense was impractical for most consumers, and by the end of 1997 most retailers were no longer carrying the PlayStation Link Cable.

List of games compatible with the PlayStation Link Cable

* ''

Andretti Racing ''Andretti Racing'' is a video game developed by American studios High Score Productions and Stormfront Studios and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996, and for Windows in 1997. The game's title refers to l ...

'' (2 to 4 players) * ''

Armored Core is a third-person shooter mecha video game series developed by FromSoftware. The series centers on a silent protagonist who takes on work as a mercenary pilot in the far future, operating large robot combat units known as Armored Cores at the ...

'' * '' Armored Core: Project Phantasma'' * '' Armored Core: Master of Arena'' * ''

Assault Rigs ''Assault Rigs'' is a vehicular combat game developed and published by Psygnosis for MS-DOS compatible operating systems and PlayStation. It was released a year later for the Sega Saturn in Japan. The game takes place in the future, where rea ...

'' * ''

Ayrton Senna Kart Duel Ayrton ( ) is a given name and surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Ayrton Andrioli (born 1965), Brazilian football coach * Ayrton Azzopardi (born 1993), Maltese footballer * Ayrton Badovini (born 1986), Italian motorcyc ...

'' (EU/JPN) * ''

Blast Radius A blast radius is the distance from the source that will be affected when an explosion occurs. A blast radius is often associated with bombs, mines, explosive projectiles ( propelled grenades), and other weapons with an explosive charge. Use i ...

'' * ''

Bogey Dead 6 ''Bogey Dead 6'' (released in Japan as ''Sidewinder'' and in Europe as ''Raging Skies'') is a 1996 flight simulation video game developed by Pegasus Japan and Bit Town, and published by Asmik in Japan and Sony in other regions. The game featur ...

(Raging Skies'' in Europe and ''Sidewinder'' in Japan * ''

Burning Road ''Burning Road'' is a 1996 arcade racing game for PlayStation. Gameplay Players are timed in races and must race through checkpoints to gain more time. Players are timed to pick a track, a car and the transmission, like in arcade games. There are ...

'' * '' Bushido Blade'' * ''

Bushido Blade 2 is a fighting video game published by Square, released in Japan and North America in 1998. It is the sequel to '' Bushido Blade'', which had been released the previous year. The game was re-released in 2008 for PlayStation Network. Gameplay ''B ...

'' * '' Car & Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98'' (2 to 4 players) (''

Total Drivin ''Total Drivin'', known as ''Car & Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98'' (or simply ''Grand Tour Racing'') in North America, ''Gekisou!!! Grand Racing'' (激走!! グランドレシング) in Japan and as ''M6 Turbo Racing'' in France, is a r ...

'' in Europe) * ''

CART World Series ''CART World Series'' is a racing video game for the PlayStation console, developed by Sony Interactive Studios America and published by Sony Computer Entertainment and released in October 1997. ''CART World Series'' is based on the Championship ...

'' (2 to 4 players) * '' Command & Conquer: Red Alert'' * '' Command & Conquer: Red Alert: Retaliation'' * ''

Cool Boarders 2 ''Cool Boarders 2'' is a snowboarding video game developed by UEP Systems for the PlayStation. The game builds upon its predecessor's features with the addition of trick competitions, computer-controlled competitors, and support for the PlayStat ...

'' * '' Dead in the Water'' * '' Descent'' * '' Descent Maximum'' * ''

Destruction Derby ''Destruction Derby'' is a vehicular combat racing video game developed by Reflections Interactive and published by Psygnosis. Based on the sport of demolition derby, the game tasks the player with racing and destroying cars to score point ...

'' * '' Dodgem Arena'' (EU exclusive) * ''

Doom Doom is another name for damnation. Doom may also refer to: People * Doom (professional wrestling), the tag team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed * Daniel Doom (born 1934), Belgian cyclist * Debbie Doom (born 1963), American softball pitcher * ...

'' * '' Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown'' * ''

Dune 2000 ''Dune 2000'' is a real-time strategy video game, developed by Intelligent Games and released by Westwood Studios in 1998 for Microsoft Windows. It was later ported to the PlayStation in 1999. It is a partial remake of ''Dune II'', which is lo ...

'' * '' Explosive Racing'' (''X-Racing'' in Japan) * ''

Final Doom ''Final Doom'' is a first-person shooter video game developed by TeamTNT, and Dario and Milo Casali, and was released by id Software and distributed by GT Interactive in 1996. It was released for MS-DOS and Macintosh computers, as well as for t ...

'' * ''

Formula 1 Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

'' * ''

Formula 1 98 ''Formula 1 98'' is a racing video game developed by Visual Science and published by Psygnosis exclusively for PlayStation. It is the sequel to the 1997 video game ''Formula 1 97'' and was based on the 1998 Formula One World Championship. Overv ...

'' (2 to 4 players) * ''

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Many ...

'' * '' Krazy Ivan'' * '' Metal Jacket'' * '' Monaco Grand Prix: Racing Simulation ''(2 to 4 players) * '' Monaco Grand Prix: Racing Simulation 2'' (2 to 4 players) * '' Motor Toon Grand Prix'' * '' Motor Toon Grand Prix 2'' * ''Mobile Suit Z Gundam (NTSC-J)'' * '' Pro Pinball: Big Race USA'' * '' R4: Ridge Racer Type 4'' (2 to 4 players) * ''Racingroovy'' (JP exclusive) * ''

Red Asphalt ''Red Asphalt'' is a series of instructional driver's education videos produced by the California Highway Patrol. The films are known for their graphic depictions of fatal car accidents. Horrendously injured and dismembered bodies are shown in t ...

'' (''Rock N' Roll Racing 2: Red Asphalt'' in Europe) * '' Ridge Racer Revolution'' * '' Robo Pit 2'' * '' Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed'' * '' Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012'' * '' San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing'' * '' Shutokou Battle R'' (JPN exclusive) * '' Streak - Hoverboard Racing'' * '' Test Drive 4'' * '' Test Drive Off-Road'' (NTSC only - removed from PAL version) * '' TOCA 2 Touring Cars'' (2 to 4 players) (''Touring Car Challenge'' in North America) * ''

Trick'N Snowboarder ''Trick'N Snowboarder'', known in Japan as , is a snowboarding video game published by Capcom in 1999. It is the follow-up to Cave (company), Cave's previous snowboarding game, ''Steep Slope Sliders''. Unlike its predecessor, which was released ...

'' * '' Twisted Metal 3'' * '' Wipeout'' * ''

Wipeout 2097 ''Wipeout 2097'' (released as ''Wipeout XL'' in North America and Japan) is a futuristic racing game developed and published by Psygnosis. It is the second installment released in the '' Wipeout series'' and the direct sequel of the original ga ...

'' (''Wipeout XL'' in North America) * '' Wipeout 3: Special Edition'' (EU) (2 to 4 players) (Original release requires using default name LINK on both systems to enable establish link option) * '' Wing Over''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Playstation Link Cable PlayStation (console) accessories