While couch co-op and online play are staples of modern consoles, the PSP quietly revolutionized portable multiplayer during its era. With features like ad-hoc wireless play and downloadable game sharing, Sony’s handheld created real-time, on-the-go multiplayer tunas4d that was ahead of its time. It wasn’t just about playing solo on a bus—it was about connecting with friends, anywhere.
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite was perhaps the best example, offering four-player hunts that felt just as dynamic as console experiences. Local multiplayer sessions became events—groups of friends gathered with their PSPs, collaborating on strategies and hunting massive creatures in sync. It wasn’t just a feature; it was a culture.
Other titles like Resistance: Retribution, SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo, and Twisted Metal: Head-On also embraced multiplayer, showing how shooters and competitive games could thrive in a mobile format. Even rhythm games like DJMAX Portable had competitive head-to-head modes that added longevity and excitement.
Today, we see echoes of PSP’s multiplayer ideas in mobile games and the Switch. But it was Sony’s handheld that pioneered the idea of serious, cooperative gaming on the go—proof that the best PSP games didn’t just entertain, they brought players together.
