Halo Studios has issued a clarification regarding the local split-screen co-op requirements for its upcoming title, Halo: Campaign Evolved, on PlayStation 5. Initially, the developer stated in an FAQ that both players would need active PlayStation Plus subscriptions, in addition to accounts linked to Microsoft. This announcement led to considerable online frustration among players.
Responding to the backlash, Halo Studios took to X (formerly Twitter) to correct the information. "We incorrectly stated that PlayStation Plus is required for local co-op splitscreen play," the studio announced. They elaborated that while local split-screen does require a separate PlayStation account for each player, a PlayStation Plus subscription is not necessary for this mode. The FAQ has since been updated to explicitly state, "A PlayStation Plus account is NOT required for local splitscreen co-op."
While local co-op no longer requires any paid subscriptions, online co-op play will still necessitate PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live subscriptions. Furthermore, players on both PlayStation and Steam will still need to connect their platform accounts to a Microsoft account to participate in co-op. This requirement marks a departure from the simpler setup of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, where local co-op primarily involved plugging in a second controller.
In other news for Halo: Campaign Evolved, Halo Studios recently released a six-hour video showcasing the game's start screen. The studio has also been providing further details through interviews, including discussions about the PlayStation 5 Pro version of the game being potentially the optimal way to experience Halo: Campaign Evolved.