If there's one console maker of the big three that puts the most work into creating a solid, fun local multiplayer environment with its hardware, it's Nintendo. Whereas PlayStation and Xbox put a bigger emphasis on online multiplayer gaming, Nintendo has made in-person multiplayer with friends and family one of its primary selling points and mission statements as a platform holder to both developers and players, and its various flagship systems over the years have continuously innovated with new local multiplayer ideas
Famicom/NES - Came with two controllers right out of the box (Famicom even went as far as to have them hardwired to the console itself).
Game Boy - Introduced the Link Cable, allowing for two player action in compatible games
Super Famicom/SNES - Refined the classic two-player multiplayer approach of the NES and Game Boy, becoming a popular platform for fighting games and brawlers
Nintendo 64 - Included four controller ports built-in, allowing for 4-player gaming as standard
Pokemon/Game Boy Color - Made handheld multiplayer a phenomenon by adding collecting and trading elements to the mix
Game Boy Advance - Brought 4-player gaming to handhelds, as well as introduced a multi-boot function for multiplayer games off of one cartridge
Nintendo GameCube - Refined the N64's 4-player approach, some games allowed you to use a GBA as a controller
Nintendo DS - Took handheld multiplayer wireless, and improved upon the GBA's single-cart multiplayer features with DS Download Play
Wii - Not only added motion controls, but also allowed for multiple controller options in select games
Nintendo 3DS - Refines the DS' wireless features, and introduced StreetPass, allowing for multiplayer elements, without directly meeting someone
Wii U - Introduced asynchronous multiplayer with the Wii U GamePad, and expands on the Wii's multiple controller option concept with many games supporting a range of controllers (Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote, Wii Remote + Nunchuck, Pro Controller, Wii Classic Controller), some games allowed for up to eight players
Nintendo Switch - Streamlines the Wii/Wii U's multi-controller aspect with just two controllers (Joy-Con in Grip, Detached Joy-Con, Single Joy-Con, Pro Controller) and adopts Famicom's built-in 2 player, and local wireless connection from the DS/3DS.
Of these systems, which do you think had the best enviroment for local multiplayer?
