Halo: Campaign Evolved Local Split-Screen On PS5 Will Require Separate Microsoft-Connected PlayStation Accounts, But Not PlayStation Plus

On Friday afternoon, Halo Studios published an extensive FAQ answering a number of questions about its upcoming Halo: Combat Evolved remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved. In a section covering how local, split-screen co-op will work on PlayStation 5, Halo Studios wrote, “If you’re playing split-screen on PlayStation 5, both accounts will need to have PlayStation Plus and be linked to a Microsoft account. Having these active PlayStation Plus subscriptions will also provide access to online co-op play.”

Following online frustration over this requirement, Halo Studios shared an update on X, writing, “We incorrectly stated that PlayStation Plus is required for local co-op splitscreen play. Local splitscreen co-op requires a PlayStation account for each player but does not require a PlayStation Plus account.” It then updated the FAQ with the bolded addition, “A PlayStation Plus account is NOT required for local splitscreen co-op.” 

We incorrectly stated that PlayStation Plus is required for local co-op splitscreen play. Local splitscreen co-op requires a PlayStation account for each player but does not require a PlayStation Plus account. https://t.co/dzemK02U1h

— Halo (@Halo) June 21, 2026

Paid PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live subscriptions are still required for online co-op play, but local play will not require any subscriptions. Both players will, however, still need accounts connected to the platform of choice, and PlayStation and Steam players will need to connect their accounts to a Microsoft account.

This means that playing Halo: Campaign Evolved split-screen won’t be as simple as it was in 2001 with Halo: Combat Evolved, when the requirements of playing couch co-op were just plugging in a second controller and pressing start. This modern, over-complicated process of playing couch co-op games is not an invention of Halo: Campaign Evolved, but the mistaken and quickly retracted requirement of needing PlayStation Plus to play local, co-op certainly shines a spotlight on this frustrating facet of modern gaming.

In much cooler Halo: Campaign Evolved news, Halo Studios also published a six-hour video of the game’s start screen, which you can check out below.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is currently the game on our cover, and there’s still time to subscribe to get the issue in the mail. We also have interviews with the Halo Studios team about topics like the PlayStation 5 Pro version of the game actually being the best place to play Campaign Evolved. You can find all of our coverage here.