[STEAM] Halo: Campaign Evolved Split-Screen Co-Op on PS5 Requires PlayStation Plus for Both Players

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If you plan on hopping into

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split-screen co-op when it launches for PS5 next month, you'll need not just one but two accounts with PlayStation Plus subscriptions to play.

Halo Studios clarified the account requirements for the upcoming story remake with a

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yesterday. It serves as a deep dive into some of the hottest topics to emerge since the game was

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for PC and Xbox Series X | S – and PlayStation 5 – in October 2025, but not everyone is happy with what the team had to say.

The breakdown confirms what is needed to play with others, with each platform demanding different requirements. For example, you'll need at least a

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account and Xbox Gamertag, regardless of whether you're a PC, Xbox, or PlayStation user, to enable cross-play and cross-platform progression. Halo: Campaign Evolved's requirements on PlayStation, specifically, however, are especially steep.

"If you’re playing split-screen on PlayStation 5, both accounts will need to have PlayStation Plus and be linked to a

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account," Halo Studios said. "Having these active PlayStation Plus subscriptions will also provide access to online co-op play."

Based on this explanation, when players sit down to play Halo: Campaign Evolved co-op in July, all participating users will need to have an active subscription, even if they're sitting right next to each other on the couch. PlayStation Plus is usually only required to access online multiplayer for premium gaming experiences, while free-to-play and offline titles can be enjoyed without a subscription.

For comparison, those on Xbox Series X | S looking to play split-screen will only need a unique

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account, while players hoping to enjoy co-op online will need an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. Those playing on Steam will only need to link to a

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account.

Halo: Campaign Evolved will not be free-to-play, but the decision to lock even split-screen behind the Sony gaming service seems especially strange. Judging by reactions to the news online, many agree.

"Needing to buy online to play local split screen is some next level insanity," one X/

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user

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.

"Player 2 on your couch needs PS Plus and a

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account," another

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. "[Halo: Combat Evolved] 2001 is laughing."

Halo: Campaign Evolved launched in 2001 and has remained one of the most beloved games in the Xbox catalog since. That's thanks, in part, to its co-op feature, which has allowed players to enjoy its story mode together – and at no extra charge – for decades.

Halo: Campaign Evolved reimagines that classic sci-fi narrative for modern devices, and although co-op is back with newly added support for up to four players online, it sounds like those hoping to relive the glory days of one of the oldest couch co-op Xbox experiences will need to jump through more than a few hoops to make it happen on PS5. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment and additional clarification regarding PlayStation Plus requirements for the game.

"Yeahhhhh this just went from a day-1 buy to a not-buy honestly," one

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user

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. "I was gonna play with my wife, but honestly have no interest in playing in my own. It's not worth paying for a whole nother subscription to do that. Kind of ridiculous."

"You need to have an account linked to

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AND pay for PS Plus just to play split-screen local co-op???" someone else

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. "Since when did we reach this level of madness?!?!"

PlayStation Plus offers three tiers: Essential ($10.99/month), Extra ($16.99/month), and Premium ($19.99/month). Prices across the service were

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. Halo: Campaign Evolved has a release date of July 28, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S. For more, you can read

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for the game.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and

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(@MikeCripe).

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