Dying Light 2 is designed around co-op gameplay, so many players wonder whether it includes the ability to play split-screen multiplayer. Couch co-op is a handy feature to have in any game, but it’s increasingly rare, especially in high fidelity titles like this. Whether or not this game has split-screen or if it’s online-only might be a significant factor in the decision to purchase it or not for some people, and we’ll discuss it below.
Does Dying Light 2 have split-screen co-op, or is multiplayer online-only?
Dying Light 2 doesn’t have split-screen multiplayer. There is co-op available, but it’s online-only and doesn’t currently feature cross-play. Those who were hoping for PVP will be disappointed as well, as co-op (which takes a bit to unlock) is the only mode now available (and is having some issues).
The original Dying Light also didn’t have couch co-op, so it’s no surprise the sequel doesn’t either. The developer, Techland, hasn’t given a reason for the lack of split-screen, but that’s also not surprising. It’s just not a feature that many games have anymore. Aside from mainstays like Call of Duty, where players demand split-screen, you just won’t see it in many titles. Even Halo Infinite didn’t launch with the feature, and it’s something the series is known for.
The most obvious issue with split-screen co-op in a game like Dying Light 2 is that it would take significantly more computing power to render an open-world for two players. So, either the graphics would have to be lowered to free up some power, or the second player would have to be tethered to the host like in the Halo games. Neither is ideal, and the number of players who would use it is likely low enough to where Techland didn’t feel the tradeoff was worth adding the feature. Unfortunately, that’s just the way the industry is heading and we’ll likely see it less and less.
