XLink quay

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XLink Kai is a free online gaming network for game consoles . It supports Xbox , Xbox 360 , PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation Portable and Nintendo switch . XLink Kai is tunneling software that allows console games to be played over the Internet in a LAN mode. XLink currently (April 2017) has approximately 2.1 million registered users.

functionality

XLink allows any game that supports XBOX System Link or a LAN mode to be played online (similar to LogMeIn Hamachi ). The XLink engine simulates the game console, it is in a LAN and transmits the network packets of the console to the players in the current lobby. The game console must be connected to a PC running the XLink Kai engine via a network cable during the game .

The XLink engine can be controlled via a PC and the respective game arenas or lobbies can be opened. There is also the option of installing the Kai engine on some routers , and there are some programs on the Xbox, such as the Xbox Media Center , which can be used to control the engine directly from the console. It is thus possible to use XLink Kai without a PC running.

history

XLink has its origins in the Xbox homebrew scene . The network was created in 2003 as a private project by programmers TheDaddy and TeXLink . With XLink, Xbox games that have a SystemLink mode could be played online. Until 2003, XLink was still called X-Link Messenger . From the beginning, XLink met with great interest in the Xbox scene and exceeded the mark of 100,000 registered users in 2004. From the very beginning, XLink was in direct competition with the XBConnect network , which functions in the same way and was similarly popular. XLink also competed indirectly with Xbox Live , Xbox's official online service. Over time, the XLink development team grew and more features were added. Finally, other consoles were also supported, so that today it is possible to play online using XLink with Xbox 360 , PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable .

XLink lost some of its popularity from 2006 after the Xbox 360 appeared. The Xbox 360 had a built-in 30 millisecond ping limit, which made it practically impossible to play Xbox 360 titles via XLink. This ping limit was eventually circumvented by hackers in 2010. At the same time, however, the network continues to attract a large number of people from the PSP user community.

Features

Every XLink user has their own XTag, an individual profile. Personal information or a user picture can be set in the profile. Each XTag also has its own list of friends. Users can send each other private messages, and there is also the option of participating in public chats. Every game supported by XLink has its own lobby within the software. Within these lobbies, users can in turn create private arenas or take part in public games. In addition, every user registered with XLink also has access to the official XLink community forum.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Website of XLink Kai. Retrieved April 8, 2017 .
  2. ↑ Hackers remove the Xbox 360's 30ms ping limit for System Link. Gameranx.com, June 30, 2010, accessed April 8, 2017 .