PlayStation Multitap
The PlayStation Multitap is a hardware peripheral developed by Sony Computer Entertainment that expands a single controller port on the PlayStation (PS1) or PlayStation 2 (PS2) console to accommodate up to four controllers and four memory cards simultaneously, enabling multiplayer gaming for up to four participants in compatible titles.[1][2] Originally released for the PS1 in late 1995 as model SCPH-1070—initially in gray to match the console's design and later in white—it allowed players to connect additional DualShock or standard controllers for games supporting three or more participants, such as fighting or party titles.[3][4] A separate version, model SCPH-10090, launched alongside the PS2 in October 2000 to support the console's enhanced multiplayer capabilities, featuring a compact design with a short cord and compatibility limited to PS2 software.[5][6] The PS1 Multitap maintained backward compatibility on early PS2 models (up to the SCPH-70000 series) when playing PS1 games, but PS2-exclusive multiplayer required the dedicated PS2 unit; using two Multitaps on either console could extend support to eight players via daisy-chaining.[1][7] This accessory was essential for local multiplayer experiences in an era before widespread online gaming, facilitating simultaneous input from multiple memory cards to save individual player progress or statistics in supported games.[2]History
Launch for PlayStation
The PlayStation Multitap was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment as one of the earliest peripherals for the original PlayStation console, specifically designed to expand multiplayer capabilities beyond the system's standard two controller ports by supporting up to four simultaneous players.[7] It launched in Japan on November 22, 1995, under the model designation SCPH-1070, just months after the console's debut in December 1994.[7][3] The initial version featured a gray color scheme to align with the aesthetic of the original PlayStation hardware.[7] Following its Japanese introduction, the Multitap became available in North America and Europe around 1996–1997, aligning with the rising popularity of multiplayer-focused party and fighting games that leveraged its expanded input options.[1] Sony marketed the device heavily as an affordable solution for 4-player simultaneous gameplay, requiring only additional controllers rather than more complex hardware setups.Adaptation for PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 Multitap, model SCPH-10090, was developed as a distinct peripheral from its PlayStation predecessor to accommodate the console's updated hardware architecture, launching in Japan on March 4, 2000, and in North America on October 26, 2000, coinciding with the PlayStation 2's debut.[5][8] This adapter enabled native support for up to four players in select PlayStation 2 titles by expanding the single controller port, addressing the growing demand for multiplayer experiences in the new generation of games.[9] Backward compatibility was partially maintained for the original PlayStation Multitap (SCPH-1070), which functioned on early PlayStation 2 models—such as those up to the SCPH-50000 series—for PlayStation 1 games only, allowing users to access legacy multiplayer content without needing the new adapter.[10] However, the PlayStation 2 Multitap (SCPH-10090) did not support PlayStation 1 titles, as its design prioritized the enhanced capabilities of the newer console.[11] In 2000, Sony reissued the original PlayStation Multitap in a white variant (SCPH-1070) to align aesthetically with the compact PS one console, facilitating seamless integration into updated setups.[12] This color-matched edition retained full compatibility with PlayStation 1 software and early PlayStation 2 hardware. Compatibility issues arose with the introduction of PlayStation 2 Slimline models in 2004, specifically the SCPH-70000 series and later, where the original PlayStation Multitap (SCPH-1070) became incompatible due to changes in port spacing and internal layout.[10] Sony's approach to the PlayStation 2 adaptation stemmed from the need to adapt to the console's enhanced controller protocol, which included analog sticks, pressure-sensitive buttons, and vibration feedback, while preserving support for legacy PlayStation 1 multiplayer titles through the original Multitap where feasible.[11] This dual-path strategy balanced innovation with backward compatibility, ensuring broad accessibility for gamers transitioning from the prior generation.[9]Design
Physical specifications
The PlayStation Multitap for the original console (model SCPH-1070) measures approximately 13 cm in length, 14 cm in width, and 2 cm in height, constructed from lightweight gray plastic for enhanced portability and weighing about 175 grams.[13] A later variant of the PS1 model adopted white plastic to align with updated console aesthetics. The PlayStation 2 version (model SCPH-10090) features a similar compact form factor of roughly 12 cm in length, 7 cm in width, and 2.5 cm in height, with black plastic molding to match the PS2 console, and a weight of approximately 227 grams.[14] Both models include four controller input ports and four dedicated memory card slots, labeled A through D, arranged on the top surface for straightforward access.[11] The unit connects to the console through a short proprietary cord measuring about 30 cm in length, terminating in a standard PlayStation controller plug that occupies a single port.[15] This design emphasizes minimal footprint and ease of integration into gaming setups.Functional features
The PlayStation Multitap functions as a multiplexing hub that connects up to four controllers and four memory cards to a single controller port on the console, emulating multiple devices through a serial protocol akin to SPI without start or stop bytes and parity checks. It polls connected devices sequentially and transmits their inputs as fixed 8-byte reports (comprising four 16-bit halfwords per controller) in response to console commands, such as01 42 01 00 to retrieve data from all four controller slots simultaneously or 0n 42 00 00 (where n is 1-4) for individual slots. This allows the console to receive inputs from multiple players as if they were connected directly, with devices signaling readiness via a low /ACK pulse lasting at least 2 µs.[11]
For memory card support, the Multitap enables independent access to up to four cards via dedicated commands like 8n xx (n=1-4), permitting simultaneous save and load operations across slots without physical swapping, provided the console's library (e.g., libtap.lib version 3.4 or later) handles dynamic connections and disconnections correctly.[11][16]
Chaining is supported by connecting one Multitap to each of the console's two controller ports, enabling up to eight controllers and eight memory cards total; however, for games requiring four-player modes, the primary Multitap must occupy port 1 to ensure proper recognition, with a controller required in its slot A for activation.[11][16]
The device draws all necessary power from the host controller port, supplying +3.5V for digital components and +7.5V for analog features like vibration motors, with no external power required; total current is capped at approximately 60 units per frame to prevent overload, which minimally impacts operation for standard digital controllers but can limit vibration in slots beyond the first when multiple actuators are active.[11][17]
Limitations include partial support for analog controllers in early models, where analog sticks and modes are recognized but vibration feedback may be disabled or inconsistent in slots 2-4 due to power constraints, and a fixed polling rate synchronized to the console's VBlank (approximately 16.7 ms at 60 Hz) that can introduce minor input latency in scenarios demanding rapid, simultaneous inputs from multiple players. Additionally, improper command timing during extended responses can cause glitches, necessitating compatible software libraries for stable operation.[17][16]