Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Halo’s local split-screen multiplayer is returning for good this time

halo split screen
Image used with permission by copyright holder
It used to be that if a first-person shooter had multiplayer, it probably had a split-screen option as well. This was back before the internet was so readily available and you had to go to a friend’s house to play a game with them. These days, multiplayer has moved from the couch and onto the internet.

Despite this move, the Halo series has always served as a pillar of local split-screen play. That is, until this mode was oddly missing from the latest entry Halo 5: Guardians. On Thursday, during a speech at the annual DICE Summit, Microsoft confirmed the Halo series will be bringing back split-screen modes in all future titles.

“We will always have split-screen support going forward,” 343 Industries chief Bonnie Ross told the crowd. What has yet to be confirmed is whether this statement applies to cooperative or competitive modes. Additionally, there was no clarification on how split-screen modes might work with the Xbox Play Anywhere model. Will Windows 10 users be able to play with others on a console?

When Halo 5 was released, fans were vocal about the absence of any local multiplayer options. Both the versus modes and the main campaign features four-player battling, yet this feature was strictly available online. What made this omission even more surprising was that 343 developers told fans during development that Halo 5 would include split-screen modes. It wasn’t until later in development that they walked back on that statement.

During Ross’ speech, she admitted that fan outcry was significant. “It was incredibly painful for the community and for us.” She event went as far to say the removal of split-screen “eroded trust” with their fanbase.

While Halo 6 has yet to be formally announced, it’s not surprising that 343 Industries is hard at work on another entry. The franchise stands as one of the biggest properties owned by Microsoft.

Editors' Recommendations

Garrett Hulfish
Garrett is the kind of guy who tells you about all the tech you haven't heard of yet. He also knows too much about other…
The best multiplayer Xbox One games
e3 2019 gears 5 escape mode modernizes the microsoft franchise screenshot

Nearing the end of the Xbox One's life cycle, one thing is clear: Although there are some excellent single-player Xbox One games, the console is defined by its multiplayer titles. Games like Halo 5 and Sea of Thieves cement Xbox One as the place to play with friends. Including the two previously mentioned games, here are the best multiplayer games currently available on Xbox One.

For this list, we looked for multiplayer games that are best experienced on Xbox One. That includes Xbox One exclusives, of course, but also games that are enhanced for Xbox One X. Most of the best multiplayer Xbox One games are available on Game Pass, too. If you want a few more options, make sure to check out our guide on the best multiplayer games on PC.

Read more
Halo Infinite medals guide: All multiplayer medals and how to earn them
A Spartan fires their weapon with an explosion in the background.

Earning medals is a staple of any Halo game -- Spartans who prove themselves on the battlefield are recognized for their wartime accomplishments after every game alongside their kill-death ratio and overall score. While players can't collect these medals long-term and put them on display anywhere, they're a nice bonus at the end of a hard-fought match.

Medals aren't exactly rare in Halo Infinite -- you can definitely earn them on accident by eliminating the right enemy or something as simple as holding an Oddball for a set amount of time -- but it's nearly impossible to memorize the long list of potential awards. If you're trying to earn every medal in the game or just want to check and see which one you keep accidentally earning, it's great to have a checklist. We've rounded up the title of every available medal in Halo Infinite and what you need to do in-game to earn them. Good luck, Spartan.

Read more
Halo Infinite: Last Spartan Standing tips and tricks
Halo Infinite Last Man Standing promo.

Halo Infinite's second season -- titled Lone Wolves -- is finally underway with a few new maps, classic game modes, and a brand new mini battle royale mode in Last Spartan Standing. While we aren't in the heat of the battle royale craze anymore, players have been itching for new Halo Infinite content after being upset about the title's lack of updates and overall unfinished feel, and Last Spartan Standing might be exactly what the game needs.

Last Spartan Standing isn't exactly a Halo-themed carbon copy of other popular battle royale titles like Call of Duty: Warzone or Apex Legends like many suspected it would be. It combines elements from various game types for a truly unique FPS experience. The solo deathmatch is a bit different than Halo Infinite's existing game modes -- you'll need more than just tight aim, a quick trigger finger, and knowledge of your surroundings to be the last surviving soldier in these battles.

Read more