Split-screen is an important part of the Halo experience. For many players, the series is closely linked to playing with friends on the same screen, sharing campaign missions, and enjoying co-op gameplay together. This is one reason the PS5 listing for Halo: Campaign Evolved got so much attention.
Halo Studios has now clarified the situation. Local split-screen co-op on PlayStation 5 does not require PlayStation Plus. The earlier FAQ made it sound like both players would need PS Plus for couch co-op, but that was an error.
PS5 players can use local split-screen without PlayStation Plus, but each player still needs a PlayStation account linked to a Microsoft account. That account step may still be annoying for some players, but it is not the same as needing two paid subscriptions.
That difference is important because couch co-op should be easy to understand. If two people are playing on the same console, most players expect to grab another controller and start the campaign. A paid online subscription warning made the feature sound more complicated than it really is.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is bringing the first Halo campaign to PlayStation for the first time, so its platform rules need to be clear for players who may not know how Microsoft account linking works.
The correction only applies to local split-screen. Online network co-op on PS5 still requires PlayStation Plus, which lines up with how paid online play usually works on PlayStation.
The game also has account rules on other platforms. Xbox players need Microsoft accounts for split-screen, while online co-op on Xbox requires the right Game Pass access. Steam players also need to link a Microsoft account.
That means players should check accounts before launch, especially if they plan to play with friends across platforms. The co-op support is one of the remake’s biggest features, but it will feel smoother if everyone has the right accounts ready before sitting down to play.
The PS Plus mistake stood out because split-screen is not just another checkbox for this series. Halo: Combat Evolved helped make local campaign co-op feel essential on console, and many longtime fans still connect the series with that kind of play.
That is why the updated PS5 information is important. Halo: Campaign Evolved is not only trying to update an old campaign with new visuals and design changes. It also needs to bring back the social feeling that made the original so memorable.
For PlayStation players, the feature has extra weight. This will be the first time many of them can play a main Halo campaign on their own console, and local co-op gives them one of the most recognizable parts of the series from day one.
Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on July 28, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. The remake includes two-player split-screen on consoles, online co-op for up to four players, cross-platform play, shared progression, new missions, expanded weapons, and updated campaign design.
That is a strong setup, but small access rules can still cause frustration if they are explained badly. Halo Studios fixing the PS5 FAQ early is the right move.
Players planning local PS5 co-op do not need PlayStation Plus. They should still make sure both players have PlayStation accounts linked to Microsoft accounts before launch.
