Halo: Campaign Evolved PS5 players will require an Xbox account and gamertag to play – as well as PS Plus to play split-screen co-op

Halo: Campaign Evolved, the upcoming remake of the original Halo launching on PS5 alongside other platforms, has stringent account requirements that have drawn criticism from players. According to a Q&A published by Halo Studios on Halo Waypoint, all PS5 players must link a Microsoft account and Xbox Gamertag to their PSN profiles to play, regardless of whether they’re playing solo or cooperatively. This requirement ensures cross-platform progression consistency with other Halo titles like The Master Chief Collection and Halo Infinite.

The most controversial aspect involves split-screen co-op on PS5. Both players require active PlayStation Plus subscriptions to play together locally, even though split-screen co-op is an offline mode. Additionally, both accounts must be linked to separate Microsoft accounts. According to senior community manager John Junyszek, “If you’re playing split-screen on PlayStation 5, both accounts will need to have PlayStation Plus and be linked to a Microsoft account.”

Similar requirements apply to Xbox Series X and S, where offline split-screen co-op also requires two separate Xbox accounts, though Game Pass is only needed for online play. The dual PlayStation Plus subscription requirement for local co-op has particularly sparked backlash from fans, who view it as an unnecessary barrier to entry for casual players wanting to experience the campaign with friends. While Microsoft indicates this is standard practice for Halo games ported to PlayStation, the requirement has left many questioning the design decision, especially for offline modes that don’t require online services.

Sources

• Halo: Campaign Evolved PS5 players will require an Xbox account and gamertag to play – as well as PS Plus to play split-screen co-op
• Halo: Campaign Evolved Split-Screen Co-Op on PS5 Requires PlayStation Plus for Both Players
• PS5 Halo Players Will Need an XBOX Gamertag
• Halo: Campaign Evolved has ridiculous local co-op requirements on PS5
• Halo: Campaign Evolved Has Some Weird Xbox Account Requirements For Local Co-Op
• Uproar as Halo PS5 Demands 2 PS Plus Subscriptions for Local Co-Op
• “Both accounts need PlayStation Plus” — Halo Campaign Evolved’s split‑screen requirement is baffling