The original Halo: Combat Evolved featured a seamless two-player split-screen co-op mode that charted the course for many multiplayer shooters for years to come. 25 years later, Halo Studios returns with a full-fledged remake (with three additional prequel missions) of the original Halo, titled Halo Campaign: Evolved, that brings back two-player split-screen co-op and adds a new four-player online co-op mode.
Playing Halo Campaign: Evolved split-screen co-op may still be the most popular choice for multiplayer play, though the process of play itself has evolved over the last 25 years. You can’t simply connect two controllers, put on the disk, and hop into an offline-only play session with a friend.
To play Halo Campaign: Evolved in split screen co-op, you’ll need to link some accounts and be online at all times. Below, we break down all the details regarding it.
How to play Halo Campaign: Evolved in couch co-op
To start playing Halo Campaign: Evolved in couch co-op, you’ll need to link your Microsoft account to the base platform’s account. Both players must own a Microsoft account and an XBOX Gamertag to access couch co-op.
On PS5, both players will need to have active PlayStation accounts that must be linked with their Microsoft accounts. A PS Plus account is not required to play Halo: Campaign Evolved locally in split-screen co-op. However, it’s a requirement for online co-op play.
Likewise, on Xbox, both players will need to have their own Microsoft accounts. Xbox Game Pass isn’t a requirement for local play (unless you’re playing it through Game Pass), but it is mandatory for online co-op play. On Steam, both players must have their Steam accounts linked to their Microsoft accounts.
Note: Previously, it was announced that both PS Players must have active PS Plus subscriptions to play local co-op split screen. Since then, the official Halo X account has clarified it was an error on their behalf, and that a PS Plus subscription isn’t required for local co-op play.
How to link your Xbox account on PS5 to play Halo: Campaign Evolved
Sadly, there’s not a separate address where you can directly link your Microsoft account on PS5 to play all future Xbox titles on Sony’s platform. Instead, you can create and keep a Microsoft/Xbox account in advance to lessen integration time on a particular game, such as Halo: Campaign Evolved.
You can create a Microsoft account here. This will also simultaneously create an Xbox account for you.
That’s everything you need to know about playing Halo: Campaign Evolved in split screen co-op.
If you’re planning to pre-order Halo: Campaign Evolved, don’t forget to check our guide on it for pre-order bonuses and editions here.
