Halo Studios Retracts PS Plus Requirement for Halo: Combat Evolved Local Co-Op
*Halo Studios has retracted its initial announcement that an active PlayStation Plus subscription would be required for local split-screen co-op in the upcoming PS5 port of Halo: Combat Evolved.* The developer issued the correction on June 21st, 2026, stating its previous communication was a mistake.
The initial policy, which mandated PS Plus for the offline local co-op mode, drew immediate criticism from the community. Players argued it was an unusual and unnecessary barrier for a feature that does not utilize PlayStation Network's online services.
Halo: Combat Evolved gameplay on modern consoles.
In its retraction, Halo Studios confirmed that a PS Plus membership is not required for local two-player co-op. The correction was made directly by the developer, clarifying the error in the original announcement for the title, which is officially named Halo: Combat Evolved on PS5.
The game remains scheduled for release on July 28th, 2026. This reversal addresses a key point of contention ahead of the launch, though other account requirements for the mode remain in place.
Clarifying Local Split-Screen and Account Requirements
Clarifying Local Split-Screen and Account Requirements
Following the retraction of the PS Plus requirement, Halo Studios has clarified the definitive technical setup needed for local split-screen co-op in Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5. To play the campaign cooperatively on a single console, each player must have their own PlayStation Network account signed in on the PS5. This is a standard requirement for most split-screen functionality on the platform.
Local multiplayer session on a single screen.
Furthermore, each participating player must also link a Microsoft account to their respective PSN profile. This account linking is described as a standard practice for Microsoft-published titles on PlayStation consoles and is necessary for accessing the local co-op mode. The developer confirmed this requirement remains in place.
Crucially, once these accounts are set up, the local split-screen mode can be played entirely offline without any active PlayStation Plus subscription. The initial, erroneous announcement had conflated the requirements for online cooperative play with those for local play. The offline functionality of local co-op is now confirmed.
Campaign Focus: What is Included in the PS5 Port
The PS5 port of Halo: Combat Evolved will include only the game's original campaign mode. According to Halo Studios, the package launching on July 28th, 2026, will not feature any competitive multiplayer components from the original Xbox title. This makes it a strictly campaign-focused release.
The campaign will support cooperative play both online and locally via split-screen. As clarified in the developer's June 21st, 2026, update, online co-op will require an active PlayStation Plus subscription for each participating player. The local split-screen mode, however, does not mandate PS Plus, though each player must have their own PlayStation Network account linked to a Microsoft account.
Covenant combat in the campaign.
Community Backlash and Pre-order Impact
In-game cinematic sequence.
The swift reversal from Halo Studios followed a significant and immediate backlash from the PlayStation community, with many citing the initial PlayStation Plus requirement as a dealbreaker. Upon the original announcement, fans took to social media and forums to criticize the policy, which mandated an active PS Plus subscription for both players engaging in offline, local split-screen co-op. This was widely viewed as an unusual and unnecessary barrier for a local, couch-based experience, with players questioning the logic of requiring two subscriptions for a single console session.
This vocal criticism had a direct impact on pre-orders, with multiple players publicly announcing their intent to cancel. The sentiment was clear: the added cost and perceived overreach were deterring potential buyers. Community discussions speculated on whether the requirement stemmed from platform policy or developer choice, but the frustration was uniformly directed at the overall player experience. Comparisons were drawn to other controversial monetization strategies, underscoring the depth of fan disapproval.
The developer's correction on June 21st, 2026, directly addressed these community concerns by removing the PS Plus mandate for local co-op. While the need for individual PSN and linked Microsoft accounts remains, the elimination of the subscription hurdle for offline play was a direct response to the player outcry. This move likely aimed to stabilize pre-order numbers and rebuild goodwill ahead of the game's July 28th, 2026, launch, demonstrating the tangible influence of organized fan feedback on modern game development policies.
