Halo: Campaign Evolved Requires Two PlayStation Plus Subscriptions For Local Split Screen

Halo: Campaign Evolved will let PlayStation 5 players use split screen co op, but the requirement for local multiplayer is raising serious questions. According to Halo Studios, both players must have a PlayStation Network account, both accounts must be linked to Microsoft accounts, and both players must also have an active PlayStation Plus subscription.

That means two people sitting on the same couch, using one PS5 console, will need two separate paid PlayStation Plus memberships to play Halo’s campaign together in split screen.

For a series with such a long history of couch co op, the decision feels difficult to understand. Halo has always been closely linked with local multiplayer, where friends or family could play through the campaign together without needing separate consoles, separate online accounts, or extra subscription costs.

Xbox players have a much simpler split screen setup

On Xbox, Halo: Campaign Evolved will require both players to have Microsoft accounts for split screen, but Xbox Game Pass is not required for couch co op.

That is a more familiar approach. Players still need profiles for saves, achievements, and account features, but local multiplayer is not locked behind two paid subscriptions.

The PlayStation 5 requirements are much more restrictive.

Platform	Split screen account requirement	Paid subscription required
Xbox Series X	S	Two Microsoft accounts
PlayStation 5	Two PSN accounts linked to Microsoft accounts	Two active PlayStation Plus subscriptions

The difference is especially strange because split screen is usually treated as local multiplayer. Players are sharing one console, one screen, and one copy of the game.

Why the PlayStation Plus requirement is confusing

PlayStation Plus is normally associated with online multiplayer, cloud saves, monthly games, and other network features. Local split screen has traditionally not required a paid online membership because the players are not connecting from separate homes or separate consoles.

That is why the Halo requirement is attracting criticism. It creates a cost barrier for a mode that is supposed to be one of the simplest ways to play together.

A household could own Halo: Campaign Evolved, own a PS5, and have two controllers, yet still be unable to play split screen unless both players maintain PlayStation Plus subscriptions.

For parents, siblings, couples, and friends sharing one console, that could make couch co op needlessly expensive.

Halo’s PlayStation debut should have made local co op easier

Halo: Campaign Evolved is an important release because it marks Halo’s first arrival on a PlayStation console. For many PlayStation players, it will be their first chance to experience the original Halo campaign through an official release.

That makes the split screen restriction even more disappointing. Halo’s campaign co op is one of the franchise’s defining features, especially for players who remember sitting beside someone while fighting through missions together.

A PlayStation launch should have been an opportunity to introduce that experience to a new audience. Instead, the account and subscription rules risk making it feel less welcoming.

The requirement may be linked to account systems

Halo Studios has not fully explained why two PlayStation Plus subscriptions are needed for local split screen. It is possible that the game relies on online account systems for progression, cross platform features, matchmaking, or other services.

However, that does not make the policy easier to accept. Many games handle local split screen with account linking while still allowing a second player to join without a separate paid online subscription.

The issue is not that Halo needs accounts. Modern games often do. The issue is requiring both local players to pay for online access when they are playing together on the same console.

Halo Studios should clarify or reconsider the policy

The decision may still change before launch, and Halo Studios has time to explain the reason behind it. A clearer explanation would help, especially if the subscription requirement comes from a technical, platform, or policy limitation.

But the current situation looks out of step with what players expect from local co op.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is bringing one of gaming’s most important franchises to PlayStation 5. Split screen campaign co op should be one of the easiest features for new players to enjoy, not one of the most expensive.

For now, PlayStation players planning to complete the campaign with someone on the same couch may need to prepare for an unusual extra cost.