Halo on PS5: Split-screen mode doesn't require a PlayStation Plus subscription.

Halo Studios has just released an important announcement to clarify misunderstandings surrounding the launch of Halo Campaign Evolved on PlayStation 5 (PS5). Accordingly, players will no longer face financial barriers when wanting to experience split-screen co-op gameplay with friends on the same device.

Fixes a bug related to PlayStation Plus request information.

The confusion stemmed from a technical Q&A post on the Halo Waypoint website. In the original post, the studio stated that if two players wanted to participate in local co-op on a single PS5 console, both needed a paid PlayStation Plus subscription. This information immediately drew strong opposition from the fan community, as the sofa-based co-op feature has been the heart of the Halo franchise for decades.

To appease public opinion, Halo Studios quickly updated the official documentation and issued a statement on social media. A studio representative shared: "We mistakenly stated that PlayStation Plus was mandatory for the local split-screen co-op mode. This mode only requires each player to have a separate PlayStation account and does not require a PlayStation Plus subscription."

Account setup process and required conditions

Although players can skip the subscription fee to play offline, the account setup process still requires several technical steps. According to the latest instructions, both players must log into separate PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts on the same console. Each of these PSN accounts then needs to be linked to a unique and independent Microsoft account.

However, the rules change if players want to switch to an online environment. To participate in the online co-op network, users are required to have a PlayStation Plus subscription along with a linked Microsoft account. For those who only play the campaign mode solo, they only need a PSN profile linked to a Microsoft account without any paid subscription.

Why is linking a Microsoft account required?

The requirement to link a Microsoft account is applied uniformly across both the PC and PlayStation 5 versions. Technically, Halo Studios relies on this unified account system to handle cross-platform progression, synchronize match statistics, and track achievements across different hardware platforms.

While navigating through multiple account menus might be a bit inconvenient for console users, removing the dual subscription requirement ensures the classic co-op experience remains completely free. Halo Campaign Evolved is scheduled to officially arrive on PlayStation 5 on July 28, 2026, marking a historic milestone as the Xbox icon appears on a rival platform.