13 Portable Console Innovations Changing How We Play Anywhere

2. Multiplayer on the Move: Link Cables to Built-In Wireless

Solo high scores are great, but the real magic started with multiplayer. Classic Game Link Cables let you battle or trade Pokémon face-to-face—literally the stuff of playground legend. Later, built-in wireless in the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable dialed up the excitement, making portable systems proper hubs for friends and rivals. This shift turned once-solitary commutes and bus rides into full-on gaming hangouts. Now, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi mean co-op and head-to-head thrillers aren’t tied down by wires at all. If you’ve ever squared off in Mario Kart on a plane or passed your handheld across a lunch table for some fast Smash Bros action, you know how transformative these connection options really are.