So, of course, split-screen play pushes the limits of any generation’s console technology. Split-screen gameplay will always present technical challenges, because it renders everything that you see on the screen two to four times, depending on how many players you have locally. I caught up a little bit with Dan Bunting, the multiplayer director at Call of Duty developer Treyarch, on why split-screen local multiplayer was still important for a shooter here in 2015.ĭid you have any trouble hitting performance targets with local multiplayer? But all is not lost! The other major shooter of the season, Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, still supports that traditional couch experience for those that want it. Halo was one of the stalwarts for a while, but Halo 5: Guardians recently phased out its own split-screen multiplayer in pursuit of a higher framerate, and long-time fans aren't pleased. Nintendo' on the box, chances are you'll be playing it alone, or with a friend that could be on the other side of the world. Over the years, that elemental gaming experience of playing your favorite titles on the couch with your friends has become rarer and rarer, phased out instead for online multiplayer and sprawling single-player experiences.
It's a tough time to be a gamer that loves local multiplayer.
Read More: Why You Might Want To Skip Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 on Xbox 360 and PS3
