I miss split-screen multiplayer in video games!

[Colaccio]

It’s really frustrating to see how computer games, which once offered fantastic split-screen multiplayer modes, have gradually abandoned this option. When we think about playing games with friends or family, the split-screen mode was always the go-to for hours of fun together, without needing an online connection or expensive hardware.

Today, many games seem to push players toward online experiences, completely forgetting those who seek a more intimate, direct gaming experience. The titles that were once perfect for a night with friends, with each player on their part of the screen, now seem to have dropped this possibility, leaving us disappointed.

The truth is, the split-screen multiplayer mode wasn’t just an "old way of doing things," but a way to bring people together, to share a gaming experience that no online connection can truly replicate. Playing side by side was a crucial element of social interaction that, unfortunately, is becoming rarer in modern games.

I believe all game developers should take a page from the games that still support split-screen, even if only for the campaign mode. There’s no need to make every game exclusively a local multiplayer experience, but offering at least the option to enjoy the campaign with a friend would be a huge step forward. Even just for an hour of shared play, it would bring back one of the most genuine experiences video games have given us.

I don’t understand why so many developers have chosen to sacrifice this mode. Sure, I understand that the development of more complex games and the rise of online gaming have taken center stage, but we can’t forget the value of local play. It was something special, an aspect that made gaming a truly shared, memorable moment. Let’s hope that, sooner or later, there will be a rediscovery of this mode, to bring back the true dignity of split-screen multiplayer.

[TBS AlexDK]

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/135507548120407092/

[nullable]

Originally posted by Colaccio:

The truth is, the split-screen multiplayer mode wasn’t just an "old way of doing things," but a way to bring people together, to share a gaming experience that no online connection can truly replicate. Playing side by side was a crucial element of social interaction that, unfortunately, is becoming rarer in modern games.

Some of my fondest memories were playing 4 player GoldenEye on a 24 inch TV. But that was 30 years ago. And some games still do support the feature, and it works better for certain types of games. But I think there's a flipside to it. Namely if it was a popular feature (for all multiplayer games) then there would be more demand for it.

This is not a feature that's being neglected despite loud protests from gamers.

Originally posted by Colaccio:

I don’t understand why so many developers have chosen to sacrifice this mode. Sure, I understand that the development of more complex games and the rise of online gaming have taken center stage, but we can’t forget the value of local play. It was something special, an aspect that made gaming a truly shared, memorable moment. Let’s hope that, sooner or later, there will be a rediscovery of this mode, to bring back the true dignity of split-screen multiplayer.

You're really mixing some emotion in there. But emotional appeals and nostalgia for the past don't make everything perpetually necessary.

Again some games have the feature. A lot of games won't because it's not a must have feature for many games. And doing all that work for some minuscule minority that might use it doesn't sell more games and may take valuable resources away from other work the game needs.

So.... you can't understand why developers don't bother with a feature people don't really care about in most games? Or you think your nostalgia for days bygone negates all other concerns?