Back 4 Blood has split screen on console, but only for campaign co-op

Back 4 Blood supports split screen on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S — but only for the campaign mode where you play through the story with up to three other players. You cannot use split screen for Swarm mode (the competitive multiplayer), and there is no split screen on PC at all, even though the game runs on PC.

Split screen means you and another player share one screen on the same console, each controlling your own character. This is different from online co-op, where each player uses their own screen and internet connection. Back 4 Blood lets you mix both: you can have two players on split screen on the same TV, and up to two more players joining online from other consoles.

Key Takeaways

  • Split screen works only in campaign mode on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, not on PC or in Swarm competitive mode.
  • You can combine split screen with online co-op: two players on one console via split screen, plus two more players online from different consoles.
  • Both players on split screen need their own controller and their own game account on the console.
  • Each player sees the same camera angle and the same portion of the map, so split screen works best when you stay near each other during gameplay.

How to set up split screen on your console

Start the campaign from the main menu and select "New Campaign" or load a saved campaign. When the game loads, the second player should press the designated button on their controller — on PlayStation it is the Options button, on Xbox it is the Menu button. The game will prompt the second player to sign in with their own account.

Both players must have their own controller connected to the console before you start. If the second controller is not recognized, check that it is paired to the console in the system settings. Some consoles require you to set up the second controller in the home menu before launching the game.

Once both players are signed in, the screen splits horizontally, with one player's view on top and one on the bottom. You can adjust the split orientation in the game settings, though the horizontal split is the default and most common.

What split screen looks like during gameplay

Both players see the same camera angle and the same area of the map at the same time. If one player moves far away from the other, the camera pulls back to show both of you, which can make distant enemies harder to see. This is why split screen works best when you stay relatively close together — the game is designed for four players spread across a larger area, not two players on one screen.

You each have your own health bar, ammo counter, and ability cooldowns displayed on your half of the screen. Friendly fire is on by default in Back 4 Blood, so you can damage each other if you are not careful. You can turn friendly fire off in the campaign settings before you start.

Mixing split screen with online co-op

You do not have to choose between split screen and online play. If you have two players on split screen on one console, you can invite up to two more players to join you online. Those online players will see the full screen on their own console and play alongside you.

To invite online players, open the pause menu during campaign and select "Invite Friends" or check the social menu. Online players will see your campaign in their available games list and can join from there. The online players do not need to own a physical copy of the game on their own console — they only need access to the game through their own account and subscription (PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, or equivalent).

Why split screen does not work on PC

Back 4 Blood on PC supports only online co-op, not split screen. This is a common limitation across many PC games because most PC players use a mouse and keyboard, which are harder to share on one screen than two controllers are. The developers chose to focus split screen support on consoles, where controllers are the standard input method.

If you want to play Back 4 Blood on PC with someone in the same room, you would need two separate PCs, two monitors, and two copies of the game — or you could use a console version instead.

Swarm mode does not have split screen

Swarm is Back 4 Blood's competitive multiplayer mode, where two teams of four players fight each other. Swarm is online only and does not support split screen on any platform. If you want to play Swarm with a friend in the same room, you both need your own console or PC and your own copy of the game.

Campaign is the only mode that supports split screen, so if local co-op is important to you, stick to the story-based campaign rather than competitive play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do both split screen players need their own game account?

Yes. Each player must sign in with their own account on the console. The account does not need to own the game — on PlayStation and Xbox, one account can own the game and the other can play it through console sharing — but both accounts must be present on the console and signed in.

Can I play split screen with more than two players on one console?

No. Split screen supports only two players per console. If you want four players total, you need two players on split screen on one console and two more joining online from other consoles.

What happens if one split screen player is much better than the other?

The camera pulls back to show both players, which can make the game harder for the stronger player because enemies are smaller on screen. You can adjust the difficulty before you start the campaign, and you can also change it mid-campaign in the settings menu.

Does split screen work on next-gen consoles the same way as older ones?

Yes. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S support split screen the same way as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The newer consoles may load the game faster and run it more smoothly, but the split screen feature itself works identically.