PlayStation Link Cable

The PlayStation Link Cable (SCPH-1040) is a peripheral cable for the 1st generation PlayStation 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 in July 1995 in Japan for ¥2000, and during the 1995 Christmas shopping season in the United States.

The cable is a 8-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 is not compatible with the redesigned PS one, nor with succeeding PlayStation consoles such as the PlayStation 2. The main advantage to using the cable was that a split-screen would not 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 (2 to 4 players)
 * Armored Core
 * Armored Core: Project Phantasma
 * Armored Core: Master of Arena
 * Assault Rigs
 * Ayrton Senna Kart Duel (EU/JPN)
 * Blast Radius
 * Bogey Dead 6 (Raging Skies in Europe and Sidewinder in Japan
 * Burning Road
 * Bushido Blade
 * Bushido Blade 2
 * Car & Driver Presents: Grand Tour Racing '98 (2 to 4 players) (Total Drivin in Europe)
 * CART World Series (2 to 4 players)
 * Command & Conquer: Red Alert
 * Command & Conquer: Red Alert: Retaliation
 * Cool Boarders 2
 * Dead in the Water
 * Descent
 * Descent Maximum
 * Destruction Derby
 * Dodgem Arena (EU exclusive)
 * Doom
 * Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown
 * Dune 2000
 * Explosive Racing (X-Racing in Japan)
 * Final Doom
 * Formula 1
 * Formula 1 98 (2 to 4 players)
 * Independence Day
 * 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 (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
 * TOCA 2 Touring Cars (2 to 4 players) (Touring Car Challenge in North America)
 * Trick'N Snowboarder
 * Twisted Metal 3
 * Wing Over
 * Wipeout
 * Wipeout 2097 (Wipeout XL in North America)
 * Wipeout 3 (EU) (2 to 4 players)
 * Wipeout 3: Special Edition (2 to 4 players)
 * Zero Pilot (JPN exclusive)