Arcade game machines have mastered multiplayer functionality through ingenious hardware and software designs that fostered both competition and cooperation. Traditional arcade cabinets often featured dual control sets – two joysticks, four sets of buttons, or even dual steering wheels in racing games – allowing simultaneous play on a single machine. Games like "Gauntlet" (1985) supported four players through expanded control panels, while fighting games like "Street Fighter II" popularized the "winner stays on" approach where players physically passed the controls.

For linked multiplayer experiences, arcades employed cable connections between cabinets. Racing games like "Daytona USA" (1993) connected up to eight cabinets through proprietary networking, creating thrilling tournament-style competitions. This technology evolved into networked systems like Sega's ALLS and Namco's NESYS, which enabled national leaderboards and competition tracking across arcade locations.

The physical arcade environment itself encouraged interaction through spectator galleries, winner announcement systems, and shared ticket dispensers in prize redemption games. Modern arcades continue this tradition with card-based systems like Bandai Namco's Banapassport that preserve player profiles and achievements across sessions, maintaining the social magic that has defined arcade gaming for decades.