System Link
System Link is a type of multiplayer game on the Xbox and Xbox 360 over a local computer network . A switch or a simple RJ45 cable can be used to connect the consoles together. A crossover cable is required when using the old Xbox , while the new Xbox 360 also allows a connection via a simple LAN cable . With this type of connection, only two systems can be used together. Using a switch, up to eight consoles can be connected to play a game with up to 32 players.
The purpose of System Links is to play offline with more than four players or to bypass the split screen.
System Link can also take place over VPNs , which allows LAN parties over the Internet.
Types of connection
There are several connection methods for System Link on Xbox 360, these are listed here:
- Method 1: Connect two consoles with a LAN cable
- Method 2: Connect multiple consoles with LAN cables and a network hub, switch, or router
- Method 3: Connect up to 8 consoles in a WiFi network (router / smartphone)
- Method 4: Connect multiple consoles to an ad hoc network
Xbox 360 games that support System Link
| title | Total players | Players per console | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Booty | 8th | 4th | Bots can be used to fill up empty spaces |
| Armored Core 4 | 8th | 1 | |
| Armored Core For Answer | 1-2 | 2 player split screen locally | |
| Baja: Edge of Control | 16 | 1 | 4 player split screen locally |
| Bionic Commando | 8th | 1 | |
| Blacksite: Area 51 | 16 | 1 | |
| Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII | 16 | 1 | |
| Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII | 16 | 1 | 2-4 player co-op campaign, 2 player split screen local |
| Blur | 20th | 1 | Bots available, 2-4 players versus split screen locally |
| Borderlands | 4th | 1/2 | Either 2 players split screen locally, or 4 players (1 player per console) system link |
| Call of Duty 2 | 16 | 1 | |
| Call of Duty 3 | 24 | 4th | |
| Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 18th | 1 | |
| Call of Duty: World at War | 18th | 1 | 4 player split screen locally. System Link (offline) includes "Vs battle" "Campaign Story Mode" and "Zombies." |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | 12 | 1 | 2 player split screen co-op "mini-missions" |
| Call of Duty Black Ops | 18th | 2 | 4 player split screen locally. System Link (offline) includes "Zombies" |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | 18th | 1 | 2 player split screen or online co-op "missions" and survival. 4 player split screen locally. |
| Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | 18th | 1 | 2 player split screen or online co-op "missions" and survival. 4 player split screen locally. |
| Call of Juarez | 1 | ||
| Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood | 12 | 1 | |
| Civilization Revolution | 4th | 1 | |
| Colin McRae: Dirt | 10? | 1 | |
| Colin McRae: Dirt 2 | 8th | 1 | |
| Condemned 2 | 8th | 1 | |
| Crackdown | 2 | 1 | |
| Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Force | 4th | 1 | 4 player split screen locally. 4 players (1 player per console) System Link. |
| Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram | 2 | 1 | XBLA. Online 8 in total, but 2 active players and 6 observers. |
| Dark Sector | 10 | 1 | Bots can be used to fill up empty spaces |
| Dead Island | 4th | 1 | |
| Dead Island 2 | 4th | 1 | |
| Dirt 3 | 8th | 1 | |
| Duke Nukem 3D (XBLA) | 2-4 | 1? | |
| Easy golf | 8th | 1 | |
| Enemy Territory: Quake Wars | 16 | 1 | Bots available. |
| F1 2010 | 10 | 1 | |
| F1 2011 | |||
| F1 2012 | |||
| F1 2013 | 10 | 1 | |
| F1 2014 | 10 | 1 | |
| Far Cry | 16 | 1 | |
| Far Cry 2 | 16 | 1 | |
| Far Cry Instincts: Predator | 16 | 1 | |
| Fatal inertia | 8th | 1 | Bots are used to fill up empty spaces |
| Fear 2: Project Origin | 16 | 1 | |
| Forza Motorsport 2 | 8th | 1 | 2 player split screen locally. Bots are supported in the Link system. Note: No System Link support in Forza Motorsport 3 and Forza Motorsport 4 . |
| Frontlines: Fuel of War | 16 | 1 | |
| Gears of War | 8th | 2 | 2 players per console in deathmatch, 1 per console in co-op |
| Gears of War 2 | 10 | 2 | Bots available. Max 5 players at System Link in co-op "horde mode" |
| Gears of War 3 | 10 | 2 | Bots available. Max 5 players in System Link in co-op and 4 players in campaign |
| Halo: fight for the future | 16 | 4th | |
| Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary | 16? | 2? | |
| Halo 3 | 16 | 4th | Up to 4 players in co-op |
| Halo 3: ODST | 4th | 2 | Up to 4 consoles with System Link in "fire fight mode". 2 player split screen locally |
| Halo: Reach | 16 | 4th | Up to 4 consoles with System Link in "fire fight mode". 4- player split screen local |
| Halo Wars | 6th | 1 | max 2 consoles in Co-Op campaign and max 6 consoles in Versus |
| Halo 4 | 16 | 4th | |
| Harm's Way | 8th | 4th | Bots can be used to fill up empty spaces |
| Home front | 16 | ||
| Hour of Victory | |||
| James Bond: Quantum of Solace | 12 | 1 | |
| Cameo: Elements of Power | 2 | 1 | |
| Kane & Lynch: Dead Men | 8th | 1 | Only 1 player per console in a System Link game. Minimum of 4 players |
| Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days | 8th | 1 | Only 1 player per console in a System Link game. Minimum of 4 players, only multiplayer games, no co-op story |
| Left 4 Dead | 8th | 2 | |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | 8th | 2 | |
| Lost Planet: Extreme Condition | 16 | 1 | exclusively at COLONIES EDITION |
| Lost Planet 2 | 16 | 1 | Only 1 player per console in a System Link game. 2 player split screen offline. |
| Midnight Club Los Angeles | 16 | 1 | |
| Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia | 16 | 1 | |
| Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe | 2 | 1 | |
| MotoGP '06 | 16 | 4th | |
| MotoGP '07 | 16 | 1 | 4 player split screen locally |
| MX vs. ATV reflex | 12 | 1 | 2 player split screen locally |
| Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising | 4th | 1 | 4 player co-op available for the whole campaign & fire team engagements. 1 player per console. |
| Otomedius G. | 3 | 1 | |
| Perfect Dark Zero | 32 | 4th | |
| Portal 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Prey | 8th | ||
| Project Gotham Racing 3 | 8th | 1 | |
| Project Gotham Racing 4 | 8th | 2 | |
| Quake 4 | 8th | 1 | |
| Quake II | 16 | 4th | |
| Race Driver: GRID | 12 | 1 | No player limit that can be set. No bots in multiplayer. |
| Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger | 2 | 1 | Complete campaign playable in co-op; no local split screen. |
| Red Dead Redemption | 8th | 1 | Update required to use System Link |
| Red Faction: guerrilla | |||
| Resident Evil 5 | 4th | 1 | Co-op 2 player, Co-op 2 players split screen local, 4 players with new Versus Mode (DLC) |
| Sacred 2: Fallen Angel | 4th | 2 | Offline: 1-2, Co-Op 1-2; Online: 2-4, Co-Op 1-4. Even when playing via LAN, both players must be logged into Xbox Live with a gold account. |
| Saints Row | 12 | 1 | |
| Saints Row 2 | 12 | 1 | Co-op 2 players |
| Saints Row The Third | ? | 1 | Co-op 2 players |
| Section 8 | |||
| Shadowrun | 16 | 1 | |
| Soltrio Solitaire | 2 | 1 | Xbox Live Arcade Game. |
| Stormrise | 8th | 1 | |
| Stuntman: Ignition | 8th | 2 | Local multiplayer with up to 4 players |
| Tenchu Z | 4th | 1 | |
| The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena | ? | 1 | |
| The Club | 8th | 1 | |
| The Darkness | 8th | 1 | |
| The Orange Box | 16 | 1 | Team Fortress 2 only |
| The outfit | 8th | 2 | |
| TimeShift | 16 | 1 | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter | 16 | 4th | Only first person mode with 2+ players on one console. |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 | 16 | 4th | Only first person mode with 2+ players on one console. |
| Tom Clancy's HAWX | 4th | 1 | |
| Tom Clancy's HAWX 2 | 4th | 1 | |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas | 16 | 1 | 1 player per console on Xbox live |
| Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 | 16 | 1 | 16 player limit in versus mode and 4 player limit in terrorist hunt mode |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction | 2 | 1 | |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent | 6th | 1 | |
| Top Spin 2 | 4th | x | |
| Top Spin 3 | 4th | x | |
| Undertow | 16 | 2 | Only first person mode with 2+ players on one console. |
| Unreal Tournament 3 | 16 | 2 | Bots can be used to fill up empty spaces |
| Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise | 4th | 1 |
Web links
- System Links Games at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Official Xbox Orange Box Listing ( Memento of March 29, 2010 in the Internet Archive )