TLDR: Halo Infinite split screen works on Xbox consoles in eligible competitive multiplayer modes. Xbox One supports up to two local players. Xbox Series X and Series S support up to four in Arena matchmaking and Local Custom Games, but only two in Big Team Battle. Split-screen is unavailable on PC, and Campaign does not have local couch co-op. Campaign players can instead use four-player Network Co-Op.
The practical answer is therefore yes, but with a large asterisk. Halo Infinite split screen can still deliver same-room Arena matches and custom-game chaos on Xbox, provided every player has a controller and an Xbox account. It cannot put two Campaign players on one television, and PC players do not receive a local split-screen option. Halo Support’s multiplayer guide is the best place to check the official local multiplayer requirements.
Halo Infinite split-screen limits at a glance
| Platform and mode | Maximum local players | Split-screen supported? |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox One: eligible competitive multiplayer | 2 | Yes |
| Xbox Series X|S: Arena matchmaking | 4 | Yes |
| Xbox Series X|S: Big Team Battle | 2 | Yes |
| Xbox Series X|S: Local Custom Games | 4 | Yes |
| Xbox consoles: Campaign | 1 per console screen | No local Campaign split-screen |
| PC: multiplayer or Campaign | 1 per screen | No split-screen |
Those distinctions matter because “supports four-player split-screen” is not a universal description of Halo Infinite. The four-player ceiling applies to Arena matchmaking and Local Custom Games on Xbox Series X|S. Big Team Battle remains limited to two local players even on those newer consoles, while Xbox One hardware supports no more than two local split-screen players.
The safe planning rule is simple: use two players as the common denominator. A pair can play eligible multiplayer modes on any supported Xbox console. Groups of three or four need an Xbox Series X or Series S, and they must choose a compatible Arena or Local Custom Game rather than Big Team Battle. Playlist availability and individual community creations can change, so verify the chosen activity before assembling the entire couch squad.
What can you play locally?
Local split-screen is restricted to competitive multiplayer rather than Campaign. That still covers the part of Halo best suited to quick same-room sessions: players can form a local Fireteam, enter an eligible Arena playlist, or build a supported Custom Game.
Arena is the straightforward choice when everyone wants conventional Halo matches with smaller teams and focused maps. On Xbox Series X|S, its support for as many as four local players makes it the strongest matchmaking option for a full couch group. Keep in mind that fitting four viewpoints onto one display makes distant opponents, weapon pads, and HUD details harder to read. A larger television and seats with a clear view are practical advantages, not luxuries, when the screen is quartered.
Big Team Battle offers larger-scale combat, but it only permits two split-screen players on an Xbox Series console. That makes it suitable for a pair sharing one Xbox and joining a bigger online battle, not for moving a four-person local group into the same BTB lobby.
Local Custom Games are the flexible option. Xbox Series X|S can support up to four split-screen players in this setting, while Xbox One remains capped at two. Custom Games are where a couch group can adjust rules, rotate teams and lean into Halo’s party-game side without depending entirely on a matchmaking playlist. If that is the attraction, our look at why Halo Custom Games still matter explains how player-made modes help sustain the series.
Custom Games are also the natural home for community-built sports and novelty modes. Players specifically chasing hammers, swords and goals can follow the setup and tactical pointers in our Halo Infinite Grifball guide. Whether a particular community map behaves well with several local viewpoints can vary, so test the selected map before treating it as the centerpiece of a group night.
How to add a second local player on Xbox
The setup is short, but the account requirement catches people out. Halo Infinite does not support guest accounts for local split-screen. Every participating player must sign in with an Xbox account.
- Launch Halo Infinite on the Xbox with the primary player signed in.
- Turn on and sync an additional compatible controller with the console.
- Use that controller to sign in with a different Xbox account. Do not choose a temporary guest profile.
- Have the additional player join the local Fireteam.
- Repeat the controller and account process for any other supported players.
- Choose an eligible Arena playlist or Local Custom Game, staying within the limit for the console and mode.
If the second player does not appear, check the basics before reinstalling anything. Confirm that the extra controller is connected, that it is assigned to a distinct Xbox account rather than a guest, and that the selected activity permits local multiplayer. Backing out to the multiplayer lobby and rebuilding the Fireteam can also help distinguish an account or lobby problem from a mode restriction.
For three- or four-player groups, confirm the hardware first. An original Xbox One, Xbox One S or Xbox One X remains in the two-player category for Halo Infinite local play. Four local players require Xbox Series X|S and a compatible Arena or Local Custom Game.
Can you play the Campaign in couch co-op?
No. Halo Infinite Campaign does not support local split-screen co-op. Putting a second controller on the same Xbox will not create a second Campaign viewport, even though that procedure works for eligible competitive multiplayer.
The supported alternative is Network Co-Op. Halo Infinite’s Campaign can be played online by a group of up to four players, with each participant using their own screen rather than sharing one display. Calling this “split-screen Campaign” would be misleading: it is networked cooperative play, not couch co-op.
That difference affects the setup as much as the mood. Local split-screen needs one Xbox, one display, multiple controllers and separate Xbox accounts. Network Co-Op needs multiple players connecting online on their own systems and screens, plus appropriate Campaign access. It recreates the coordinated mission experience, but not the pass-the-snacks simplicity of sharing one television.
If one-screen Campaign play is the deciding requirement, Halo Infinite is not the answer. Consider another game built around local cooperative play instead; our guide to the best couch co-op and split-screen games for Halo fans organizes alternatives by the kind of teamwork or action a group wants.
Why local Campaign split-screen is missing
The absence is not simply an undiscovered menu option. In September 2022, 343 Industries announced that it was no longer developing local split-screen Campaign Co-Op, as covered in GameSpot’s contemporaneous report on the cancellation. The studio proceeded with online Campaign co-op instead.
That history explains why conflicting answers still circulate. Halo Infinite does have split-screen, so a blanket “no” is wrong. It does not have Campaign split-screen, so a blanket “yes” creates equally unrealistic expectations. The accurate answer must identify both the platform and mode.
Does Halo Infinite have split-screen on PC?
No. Halo Infinite’s split-screen feature is restricted to Xbox consoles; the PC version does not offer local split-screen multiplayer. Connecting a second controller to a PC does not change that platform limitation.
PC does support LAN play, which is different from split-screen. A LAN connects multiple systems over a local network, with each player using a separate game instance and screen. Halo Support states that LAN play is available across PC and Xbox and that supported Local Custom Games can accommodate up to 24 players across multiple systems.
A mixed LAN can therefore produce a substantial same-room Halo night, but it requires more hardware than couch multiplayer. Think of split-screen as several people sharing one console and television; think of LAN as several consoles or PCs communicating locally. Xbox systems can use their supported split-screen players as part of a LAN setup, while PCs remain one player per screen.
Do you need Game Pass?
Halo Infinite multiplayer is free to play, and Halo Support states that a Game Pass membership is not required for multiplayer. Campaign access is separate from the free multiplayer component, so anyone organizing Network Co-Op should confirm that every participant has suitable Campaign access before the session.
The lack of a multiplayer purchase requirement makes local competitive play relatively easy to try if the Xbox, controllers and accounts are already available. The main friction is not an entry fee; it is matching the number of people to the correct console generation and mode.
Quick answers to common setup questions
Do all local players need Xbox accounts?
Yes. Each split-screen player must be signed in with an Xbox account. Guest accounts are not supported. Creating or preparing the necessary accounts before a gathering will save time at the lobby screen.
Can four people play on one Xbox One?
No. Xbox One consoles support up to two local split-screen players in Halo Infinite. Four-player local support is limited to Xbox Series X|S, and even there it depends on the mode.
Can four people play Big Team Battle on one Series X or Series S?
No. Big Team Battle allows up to two local split-screen players on Xbox Series X|S. For three or four people sharing one newer Xbox, use an eligible Arena playlist or Local Custom Game instead.
Is online Campaign co-op a workaround for one television?
Not by itself. Network Co-Op lets up to four players tackle the Campaign online, but it does not divide one television into local viewpoints. Players looking for the couch-co-op experience need a different game or Halo release that explicitly supports local Campaign play.
The bottom line
Halo Infinite supports useful but narrowly defined local multiplayer. Two players can share an Xbox in eligible competitive modes, while Xbox Series X|S can expand to four local players in Arena matchmaking and Local Custom Games. Big Team Battle stops at two, Xbox One stops at two across supported modes, and PC has no split-screen feature.
Campaign is the firm dividing line: it offers four-player Network Co-Op, not couch co-op. Before planning a session, count the players, identify the Xbox model and choose the mode accordingly. For the smoothest four-person setup, use an Xbox Series X or Series S, prepare four distinct Xbox accounts and start with a supported Local Custom Game.