“Couch co-op is back”: Halo and Gears are bringing split-screen back, and I couldn’t be happier
Microsoft’s flagship Xbox franchises Halo and Gears of War are bringing split-screen campaign co-op back with Halo: Campaign Evolved and Gears of War: E-Day. This marks a significant return of a feature that was once standard for console shooters but has largely disappeared over the past decade.
The absence of split-screen co-op has been a persistent pain point for Xbox players, particularly Halo fans who were disappointed when split-screen campaign multiplayer was promised after its omission in Halo 5 but never delivered in Halo Infinite. The feature is especially nostalgic for players who grew up with shared-screen gaming on earlier Xbox consoles, such as the original Xbox’s Halo: Combat Evolved and Xbox 360’s Gears of War.
The revival of local co-op in both franchises signals a broader industry recognition that despite the dominance of online multiplayer experiences, there remains strong player demand for couch co-op experiences. This move allows friends and family to play together on a single display, reviving a form of gaming that helped define Xbox’s early identity.
With two of Xbox’s most important properties bringing back split-screen, the decision may influence industry-wide attitudes toward local multiplayer features and demonstrate that classic gaming experiences remain valuable to modern audiences.