Halo Studios has reversed one of the most controversial details surrounding the upcoming PlayStation 5 launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved, confirming that local split-screen co-op will not require PlayStation Plus memberships after all.
The clarification comes just days after a Halo Waypoint Q&A published on Halo Waypoint sparked widespread backlash among PlayStation players. The original wording suggested that both users participating in local split-screen co-op on PS5 would need active PlayStation Plus subscriptions in addition to linked Microsoft accounts. The requirement quickly became one of the most criticized aspects of Microsoft’s first major Halo release on PlayStation.
For many fans, the reported requirement appeared to undermine one of Halo’s most celebrated traditions: couch co-op. Since the original Halo: Combat Evolved debuted in 2001, split-screen multiplayer has been a defining feature of the franchise, allowing friends and family to play together without navigating subscription barriers.
The controversy intensified across social media and gaming forums, where players questioned why an offline local mode would require two separate paid subscriptions. Several commentators described the policy as confusing and unnecessarily restrictive, particularly given that local co-op on PlayStation generally does not require PlayStation Plus access. Community frustration spread rapidly as gaming outlets highlighted the unusual requirement.
However, Halo Studios has now acknowledged that the information was incorrect.
An updated version of the Halo Waypoint Q&A states that players using split-screen local co-op on PS5 must be signed into PlayStation accounts linked to Microsoft accounts, but a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required for local co-op. The studio also added an editor’s note confirming that the original statement regarding PlayStation Plus requirements was published in error and corrected on June 20.
The revised guidance clarifies that PlayStation Plus is only necessary for online network co-op, aligning Halo with standard PlayStation multiplayer policies. Xbox users face a similar distinction, with local split-screen requiring Microsoft accounts while online co-op requires an active subscription service.
The correction was welcomed by many players who had expressed concern that Microsoft’s first major Halo release on PlayStation could launch with unnecessary restrictions. Several gaming publications noted that the reversal removes one of the biggest complaints surrounding the game’s upcoming release.
Despite the PlayStation Plus clarification, one requirement remains unchanged: all players must use Microsoft accounts. According to Halo Studios, a Microsoft account and Xbox Gamertag are required regardless of platform to support cross-platform progression and cross-platform play. This means PlayStation 5 users will still need to link their PSN accounts to Microsoft’s ecosystem before playing.
That account-linking requirement has become increasingly common across Microsoft’s multiplatform releases. Games such as Halo Infinite and Halo: The Master Chief Collection already use Microsoft account integration to synchronize player progress across devices and services. Halo Studios says the same approach will be used for Halo: Campaign Evolved.
The timing of the controversy is particularly notable because Halo: Campaign Evolved represents one of the most significant platform expansions in Xbox history. For more than two decades, Halo served as Microsoft’s flagship console franchise and one of the defining exclusives of the Xbox brand. The arrival of a Halo title on PlayStation 5 marks a major shift in Microsoft’s gaming strategy as it continues to bring more first-party properties to competing platforms.
Halo Studios recently confirmed that the game will launch on July 28, 2026, with early access available for Premium Edition buyers. The game is described as a modernized reimagining of the original Halo adventure while retaining the core story that introduced players to Master Chief and the Covenant conflict. The release will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
Beyond the PS Plus confusion, the latest Q&A also revealed additional gameplay details, including collectible Skulls, co-op difficulty scaling, customizable difficulty modifiers, and the return of classic Halo mechanics adapted for the new release. Halo Studios indicated that more community Q&A sessions are planned before launch as players continue to ask questions about the game’s features and platform-specific functionality.
For now, the clarification appears to have resolved one of the game’s biggest pre-launch controversies. Players looking forward to experiencing Halo’s legendary campaign on PlayStation can still enjoy split-screen couch co-op without paying for two PlayStation Plus memberships, preserving a tradition that has been central to the franchise for generations of fans.
