Enlarge / RIP, Halo Infinite split-screen co-op. (credit: Aurich Lawson | Bungie)
In 2017, the Microsoft-owned development team behind all things Halo began playing catch-up to the series’ worst reviews and reactions in years. Halo 5: Guardians landed with a thud, and high on its list of issues was a complete lack of split-screen multiplayer modes—especially for a linear campaign that revolved around four-player fireteams. If you couldn’t play that mode online, you were stuck with three dull, computer-controlled squadmates.
The critical and consumer backlash was bad enough to lead to a notable moment of damage control for the series’ devs at 343 Industries. At the annual DICE gaming summit, an event centered around developers, 343 chief Bonnie Ross made a pledge: Halo first-person games “will always have split-screen support going forward,” she told the crowd.
Today, after months of delays and optimistic suggestions, Microsoft and 343 Industries have walked back that pledge. The game’s campaign is no longer slated to ever receive a split-screen mode for friends to share on the same couch.
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