Sony has a notorious habit of dropping its most intriguing projects shortly after they hit the market. Years ago, we got our hands on a PS Move—a motion-sensing device that let you control your character with real hand movements, much like Microsoft’s Kinect. It was a thrill at first, but the excitement fizzled out fast. Sony barely released new games for it, and third-party developers seemed to forget it existed entirely.
Then came the PS Vita in 2012. It launched with promise but was quickly overshadowed by the PS4’s success, leaving the portable console to languish. It became little more than a niche device for visual novels and streaming games from its bigger sibling—a role now filled by the PS Portal, Sony’s latest oddity that’s somehow finding its footing. And let’s not forget the PS VR headsets. The first generation, released in 2016, had some spark with titles like Gran Turismo and Resident Evil 7, but the second iteration? It’s like nothing’s happening there either.
Amid these half-baked ventures, one project truly stole our hearts | PlayLink. Maybe you remember it—maybe you even played it and hoped for more. If not, let us take you back and pose a question | Was it fair for Sony to let this social gaming gem fade away?
Disclaimer | This isn’t a deep analysis—just a nostalgic romp through some of PlayLink’s best exclusives. Hope you enjoy the ride!
What Was PlayLink?
Sony Interactive Entertainment dropped PlayLink in 2017, aiming to make console gaming a family affair. That same year, Nintendo’s Switch stormed in with its Joy-Cons, dominating casual co-op with titles like Monopoly and Mario Party. Sony couldn’t let that stand unchallenged. By year’s end, PlayLink debuted with a handful of games leveraging its unique hook | no pricey controllers needed—just your smartphone.
Here’s the gist | Gather your crew around a TV, ditch the DualShock 4s (imagine buying six of those!), and use your phones instead. The apps worked on both Android and iOS, so almost anyone could join—no excuses about incompatible devices, unless your phone was a relic stuck on ancient software. PlayLink launched with a small but charming lineup, perfect for a few lively Saturday nights. Let’s revisit the highlights.
Hidden Agenda
From Supermassive Games—the folks behind Until Dawn, a standout PS exclusive—came Hidden Agenda. This wasn’t about teens facing mountain monsters but a squad of cops hunting a maniac dubbed the Huntsman. Players stepped into the pursuers’ shoes—or maybe the killer’s, depending on the twist.
The game leaned into a Mafia-style board game vibe, dishing out secret objectives via your phone. One player might need to off a character while another hides evidence for bonus points, sparking delicious tension. The story? Decent, if predictable—pegged the killer the moment they appeared. Still, the social scheming made it a blast.
Fun Fact: Supermassive loves Sony’s tech toys. They crafted an early PS Move version of Until Dawn in 2011 and a PS VR rail shooter in the same universe before Hidden Agenda. They get around.
- Release Date: October 22, 2017
- Platform: PS4
- Tags: Action, Adventure, Multiplayer, Party, Detective, Thriller, Solo, Third-Person
That’s You!
A frequent PS Plus freebie, That’s You! ditched the murder mysteries for something simpler | how well do you know your friends? The game tossed out quirky questions—Would Player 1 do this in real life?—and everyone answered. It’s lighthearted until someone’s feelings get bruised over a “Do you really see me that way?” moment.
It was slick and fully localized, but the question pool felt shallow, and the gameplay lacked punch beyond the discussion prompts. Still, Sony’s polish shone through.
- Release Date: July 4, 2017
- Platform: PS4, PS5
- Tags: Multiplayer, Quiz, Party, Text
Frantics
Now we’re talking. Frantics cast players as quirky animals (or folks in baggy outfits, take your pick) racing through obstacle courses under the watch of a snarky fox—think Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox with a British accent and a teacup. This was Sony inching toward Nintendo’s turf | chaotic, all-ages fun.
Released the same year as Super Mario Party, Frantics held its own. Knock rivals off icy platforms, sabotage their rickety cars, and dodge flying hazards—all for that sweet victory. Kids loved the “funny fox” game, even if the charm wore thin after a while.
- Release Date: March 6, 2018
- Platform: PS4, PS5
- Tags: Arcade, Fighting, Multiplayer, Racing, Tactics, Party, Solo, Third-Person
Knowledge Is Power
The crown jewel of PlayLink | Knowledge Is Power. Think Buzz—the old PSP quiz game I used to play with my cousin—but modernized. Players raced to answer trivia, sabotaging each other with tricks like freezing options or sliming the screen. The finale? A literal climb up a mountain, your correct answers determining your starting height.
This was peak PlayLink. From fall 2018 to spring 2019, my friends and I sank weekends into it, perfecting our trivia and virtual mischief. The questions were fresh—shoutout to that Brooklyn 9-9 one my mom and I nailed—and even nodded to PlayStation’s legacy. A sequel, Knowledge Is Power | Decades, added era-themed quizzes, but it felt more like DLC than a full follow-up.
- Release Date: October 24, 2017
- Platform: PS4, PS5
- Tags: Arcade, Multiplayer, Quiz, Party, Comedy, Text
Beyond the Big Four
Other PlayLink titles popped up—classics like UNO, Ticket to Ride, and Battleship, plus interactive films Erica and Planet of the Apes | Last Frontier. They were fine but forgettable, earning lukewarm nods from players and critics alike. Check user Avarly’s full list for the deep dive—props to them.
Was It Worth It?
PlayLink was a brilliant idea Sony couldn’t monetize. A $5 monthly subscription for all its games could’ve kept it alive. Instead, it’s been six years since the last good title, and support’s dried up. Playing on PS5 now is a hassle—backward compatibility glitches mean tinkering with local networks just to connect phones.
Looking back, PlayLink gave some fantastic gaming memories. We miss Knowledge Is Power and Frantics, and yeah, maybe we’re just nostalgic for when Sony took wild swings. With rumors of a new portable console swirling, we’ve got one plea | Sony, stick with your experiments. Profit matters, but don’t let every cool idea fade into a footnote before the next PS6 triumph. Give us room to play, won’t you?
