Skip to main content

Does Back 4 Blood support split-screen co-op play?

The entire premise that Back 4 Blood is based on centers around teaming up with three friends to try and survive the relentless, and seemingly endless, onslaught of Ridden. Obviously building off of the formula established with the two Left 4 Dead titles, this is a game where half the fun comes from how you and your friends respond to the unpredictable nature of the game. While there technically is a solo mode, it is heavily disincentivized compared to playing with other people. Even playing with bots is pushed as a better secondary option compared to going it alone.

That’s all well and good, but what about players who want to squad up for some split-screen local co-op zombie shooting action? The Left 4 Dead games were some of the best couch co-op experiences of their day, and while the standard of games having split-screen has been slowly disappearing, many are wondering if Back 4 Blood will allow us to play with our friends on the same console. Online multiplayer is a given but isn’t quite the same as having a buddy sitting right there next to you while you play. If that’s how you prefer to play, you’re probably wondering if Back 4 Blood supports split-screen local co-op play. Now that the game is out, here’s what you need to know before you rush out and grab the latest and greatest zombie shooter.

Related Videos

Further reading

Can you play Back 4 Blood in local split-screen?

Back 4 Blood Cleaners attacking Retch.

Back 4 Blood was advertised as being a fully cross-play title across all the major platforms (Xbox, PlayStation, and PC), but the developers admitted that local split-screen wouldn’t be an option. They made a specific statement about it, saying, “We would love to support split-screen but right now it is, unfortunately, something that will not be available at launch.” Now that the game is out, the unfortunate truth is that there is no way to play Back 4 Blood on a single console or PC with more than one person. The best you could do is go old school and set up multiple systems for a LAN party if you wanted to play with your friends in the same room.

Will local split-screen ever be added?

Hunters in Back 4 Blood.

Based on the only mention that Turtle Rock has made about split-screen support, we can have some hope that it will be added as an option sometime in the game’s future. We know that Back 4 Blood is a game that they will want to support with updates and content over time, and the fact that this feature is one that enough people are asking for (and that the team is aware of) makes us think that they will do everything they can to implement it in the game as soon as they can.

As for now, we will have to hang tight and see what future plans Back 4 Blood has to share before we will know when, if ever, this option will be added.

Editors' Recommendations

Metroid Prime 4: Release date prediction, trailers, gameplay, and more
Samus holding cube in Metroid Dread.

One of Nintendo's lesser-known yet still beloved franchises is Metroid -- a series that originally began on the NES, putting us in the shoes of bounty hunter Samus Aran. Now, over 35 years later, fans are eagerly awaiting the next entry in the series, Metroid Prime 4, which has been in the works for several years.

The Prime series takes the formula introduced in the 2D games and turns it into a 3D, first-person adventure that still very much feels like Metroid, despite the perspective shift.

Read more
The best multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch
Mario and his friends.

Part of the Nintendo Switch's appeal is its versatility -- you can play it at home on your TV or on the go in portable mode. This versatility also applies to multiplayer and co-op games, which can be played with single Joy-Con controllers, in tabletop mode, and wirelessly both online and locally. Better yet, many of these Nintendo Switch games allow for crossplay with other consoles and PCs.

And while the Switch might not be the competitive powerhouse that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are, it still offers an incredible library of multiplayer games. In fact, the portable console is home to some of the best co-op experiences we've seen in this generation, and new competitive games are being added all the time. Here are our favorites, whether you're a fan of raucous racing games, mellow simulators, or monster-hunting titles of the finest caliber.
The best multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch

Read more
PlayStation Plus just set a new first-party precedent with Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon: Forbidden West

Sony revealed the games coming to PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Plus Extra this month on February 21, and it's the best month that the service has had since it launched in the summer of 2022. Not only are some great PS1 classics like The Legend of Dragoon and Wild Arms 2 coming to the service, but Horizon Forbbiden West is getting added as well.
Horizon Forbidden West coming to the service one year after launch is a big deal because Sony has been resistant to putting recent first-party PS5 games on its subscription service. While it's still not adding first-party titles on day one like Xbox Game Pass does, this is possibly our first indication of how Sony will handle adding its own games to the subscription. It's not the only PS4 and PS5 title coming to the service this month either, as the following strong lineup of games was also confirmed to be coming on February 21.

The Quarry (PS4, PS5)
Resident Evil VII Biohazard (PS4)
Outriders (PS4, PS5)
Scarlet Nexus (PS4, PS5)
Borderlands 3 (PS4, PS5) 
Tekken 7 (PS4, PS5)
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (PS4)
Earth Defense Force 5 (PS4)
Oninaki (PS4)
Lost Sphear (PS4)
I Am Setsuna (PS4) 
The Forgotten City (PS4, PS5) 
Destroy All Humans! (PS4)

Read more