Halo Infinite's Split-Screen is One Step in The Right Direction (2024)

Halo Infinite has brought back several classic game types and features throughout its numerous updates and lifespan over the years, including split screen multiplayer. However, there’s one element in Halo Infinite that’s still missing but could possibly return: split screen campaign co-op.

Halo’s Couch Co-op Lineage

Ever since 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved, split screen co-op has been an integral part of the Halo experience. Gamers were able to play with up to one other player in CE’s campaign, while four players in total could play split-screen multiplayer. Split-screen was integral for CE, as Xbox Live hadn’t yet launched and the only way to play with friends was through couch co-op and system linking multiple Xboxes consoles for larger multiplayer gametypes such as Capture the Flag.

CE’s split screen system would continue for Halo 2, but by Halo 3's campaign, split screen co-op was expanded to four players, with each player embodying unique characters instead of multiple Master Chiefs or Arbiters running around. This would remain the classic formula for split screen co-op in both campaign and multiplayer in mainline Halo games up through 2012’s Halo 4. However, unique split screen campaign co-op characters would only return in Halo: Reach, with Halo 3: ODST having multiple Rookies running around and Halo 4 returning to have multiple Master Chiefs.

The Loss of Halo Split Screen Co-Op

This formula would see its last days with the dawn of the Xbox One. While split screen campaign and multiplayer co-op returned for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, originally composed of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4, any split screen capabilities were removed with 2015’s Halo 5: Guardians. The only way for gamers to play together in Halo 5 was via Xbox Live, requiring households to own multiple Xboxes in order to play campaign or multiplayer together.

Halo 5 Squads Without Split Screen

The decision to eliminate campaign split screen co-op was ironic at the time, given Halo 5’s return to unique co-op characters and emphasizing squad mechanics. Hosts of campaign matches would play as Spartan-IV Jameson Locke or Master Chief. All other players had options to play as either Spartan-IVs Edward Buck, Holly Tanaka, or Olympia Vale for Fireteam Osiris or Spartan-IIs Frederic-104, Kelly-087, or Linda-058. These characters would still appear throughout the campaign no matter if other players weren’t playing alongside them, as Halo 5 introduced a revive mechanic instead of instantaneous death when receiving too much fire.

Fans were widely upset about the loss of split screen co-op in Halo 5, with many believing this decision was a way for Microsoft to sell more Xbox consoles. 343 Industries heard players' complaints and, at the 2017 DICE Summit, then Head of 343 Industries Bonnie Ross declared that every future Halo FPS game would have split screen co-op for now on. However, by the time Halo Infinite launched in 2021, players could only play a limited version of multiplayer split screen and no campaign co-op was to be found.

Halo Infinite’s Split Screen Co-Op

Infinite players on Xbox Series X or S consoles can have up to four gamers play on split screen multiplayer, while Xbox One players are restricted to two player multiplayer split screen. However, no matter what console people play on, larger matches such as Big Team Battle are restricted to two player split screen. Players are further restricted to playing split screen multiplayer with other Xbox accounts, meaning people can’t sign in as guests to play split screen co-op in Infinite. This is currently the only way to play split screen co-op in Infinite officially.

How to Glitch Into Infinite Campaign Split Screen

Xbox Live campaign co-op was later added to Infinite in 2022, but it was limited to four players, each playing once again as multiple Master Chiefs. However, gamers have found a way for players to play campaigns with split screen co-op. As a campaign mission loads, the host can join another player as the mission is loading. The host can then leave the fireteam, go to custom games, add up to four split screen accounts (on Series X or S consoles), and switch their server to LAN (Local Area Network).

This method of playing campaign co-op is a glitch in which players could access an unfinished form of campaign split screen co-op that 343 was working on. In late 2022, Head of Product Performance and Insights at 343 Industries Sean Baron explained that 343 was working on adding campaign split screen co-op to Infinite, but scrapped the project to invest more resources towards the game’s live service.

Halo’s Spilt Screen Future

As Halo Infinite nears its three-year anniversary, many expect its life cycle to end soon, especially following the conversion of large seasons to smaller content operation events. It would be a nice farewell gift for 343 to complete split screen campaign co-op before transitioning to work on Halo 7 or other Halo titles. Completing campaign split screen would offer a great new Infinite experience to play while the next Halo project gets made.

If 343 Industries is working on Halo 7 or will begin working on it soon, the next mainline Halo game must launch with campaign and multiplayer split screen co-op. Split screen multiplayer is a classic and well-renowned element of the Halo franchise. It helps spread positive reviews of Halo games from person to person, as people who have never played a Halo game could play it with friends at parties or other gatherings and this could inspire them to buy their own copy of the game.

Halo is a 23-year-old franchise with many longtime fans having families of their own, and there's no better way to get the next generation of gamers to play Halo than through split screen co-op with family and friends. Split screen co-op is a Halo tradition that should never be abandoned ever again and Halo Infinite players deserve to have the feature completed.

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is the latest entry in the long-running Halo series. A first for the franchise, this game is open-world, features a grapple system, and more.

Franchise

Halo

Platform(s)

Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released

December 8, 2021

Developer(s)

343 Industries

Publisher(s)

Xbox Game Studios

Genre(s)

First-Person Shooter

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Slipspace

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence

How Long To Beat

12 Hours

X|S Enhanced

Yes

File Size Xbox Series

90 GB (November 2023)

Metascore

87

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC, Xbox One &Xbox Series X|S

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