Halo PS5 Co-op: Double the Subscriptions
Halo: Campaign Evolved on PS5 Requires Two PS Plus Subscriptions for Local Split-Screen
Key Points
Halo Studios clarified that players must sign in with a Microsoft account and an Xbox Gamertag on every platform even if they only play the campaign solo—linking is described as necessary to “support cross-platform play and cross-platform progression.”
The developers’ Q&A also positioned Halo: Campaign Evolved as coming with campaign-focused content: one report notes that it “doesn’t include Halo’s deathmatch component.”
Halo: Campaign Evolved’s account Q&A was published ahead of specific timelines—July 28 launch and a July 23 early access window for Premium Edition preorders.
Beyond account rules, Halo Studios addressed editions and reselling concerns: one article says the Collector’s Edition is “officially sold out with no restock planned,” and that retail partners audited orders, found no evidence of widespread scalping, and refunded/relisted a small number of flagged purchases.
Halo: Campaign Evolved arrives on PS5 on July 28 — the franchise's first appearance on a PlayStation platform in nearly 25 years. But before a second player can pick up a controller for local split-screen co-op, both people in the room must each have an active PlayStation Plus subscription and their own Microsoft account linked to an Xbox Gamertag, according to GamesRadar.
The requirement has sparked an immediate backlash. Many PS5 players expect couch co-op to work without extra subscription fees for a second profile. Halo Studios published a community Q&A on June 20 explaining the rules — but the explanation has done little to quiet the anger, Eurogamer reported.
PS5 Split-Screen Rules Are Stricter Than Xbox
On PS5, two-player split-screen co-op requires both players to have their own PlayStation Plus membership. Both accounts must also be linked to separate Microsoft accounts with Xbox Gamertags. PS Plus memberships also cover online co-op, which supports up to four players, GamesRadar noted.
The Xbox Series X|S version is less demanding. The second player only needs a unique Microsoft account — no paid Game Pass subscription is required for local split-screen. Game Pass is listed as necessary only for online co-op. On Steam, players simply link a Microsoft account and nothing more, according to Eurogamer.
Microsoft Accounts Required Even for Solo Play
The account rules go beyond co-op. Every player — even someone playing solo campaign — must sign in with a Microsoft account and an Xbox Gamertag on every platform. Halo Studios community manager John Junyszek said linking is needed to "support cross-platform play and cross-platform progression," a system the studio calls Foundry, per GamesRadar.
Some community members suspect the double PS Plus requirement may be a technical quirk. When a Microsoft account is being authenticated, Sony's systems may not be able to tell the difference between a local second player and an online one, flagging the session as an online activity. Halo Studios has not commented on that theory, Playday.One reported.
The Real Cost of Playing With a Friend on Your Couch
A household that wants to play split-screen will need two PS Plus subscriptions. A single month of PS Plus Essential costs around $9.99. That means a one-time couch co-op session could add roughly $10 to $20 on top of the game's $59.99 base price — just to hand a second controller to someone sitting next to you.
Fans have called the setup a "subscription paywall for offline play." A viral Reddit thread argued that couch co-op should not require a paid online gaming subscription, calling it a betrayal of the original 2001 game's identity. OpenCritic noted the requirement applies even in local splitscreen, making it one of the strictest local co-op setups seen on PS5.
Collector's Edition Sold Out, Scalping Audit Finds Little Fraud
Beyond the account controversy, Halo Studios also addressed the Collector's Edition in its June 20 Q&A. The $199.99 edition sold out globally within hours of pre-orders opening on June 8. Halo Studios confirmed there will be no restock. Secondary market listings on eBay quickly climbed to around $600.
Retail partners audited their orders and found only a small number of suspicious purchases. Those flagged orders were refunded and relisted to genuine buyers. Halo Studios said the audit found no evidence of widespread scalping, according to Playday.One. The game launches July 28, with early access for Premium and Collector's Edition owners on July 23.
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