Can 2 players play split-screen on Grounded?

Let‘s get straight to the point – those hoping to team up on the couch will be disappointed to hear that Grounded does not support split-screen multiplayer. While online co-op allows up to 4 players to unite against the backyard‘s imposing insects, a second player unfortunately can‘t join the struggle by simply grabbing another controller on the same TV or monitor.

According to Obisidian producer Katie De Sousa, implementing split-screen is "a huge technical challenge and very performance intensive." With Grounded‘s detailed world and numerous on-screen entities, the trade-offs required were deemed too significant.

Robust Online Multiplayer Options

So friends will need to connect online, but the good news is Grounded excels in facilitating shared survival adventures through peer-to-peer multiplayer.

One player hosts a session and up to 3 others can join at any time. The persistent world means progress carries over continuously – bases, gear, and resources will remain between meetups.

• Over 3.2 million players have embarked on backyard expeditions according to recent figures
• Average concurrent players on Steam in 2022: Over 27,000

• Xbox Game Pass subscribers can simply download and get surviving – no additional purchase required

According to analytics firm EEDAR, over 60% of players preferred online multiplayer modes as of 2021. And with Xbox focusing on Xbox Live integration, the scales seem to be tipping further away from local play.

The Decline of Split-Screen Gaming

Unfortunately, Grounded limiting cooperative play to online matches reflects the broader trend in the industry. Support for same-couch adventures has notably declined across this generation of gaming.

In a 2020 survey about the topic, over 85% of polled developers cited production constraints as the main blockade:

While online infrastructure has expanded through platforms like Xbox Live, accommodating multiple players on the same system introduces significant technical and creative difficulties. Game engines push graphical limits more each year, leaving fewer resources for smoothly adapting to split-screen.

It Takes Two and the upcoming It Takes Two friends demonstrate well-executed local adventures are still possible. But these require considering co-op fundamentally from day one instead of as a supplemental feature.

The Future – More Decline or a Couch Co-op Comeback?

Looking ahead, will same-system multiplayer continue fading away? As console manufacturers focus on online subscriptions and many lapsed gamers harbor nostalgia for Bomb Squad and Goldeneye marathons, I personally hope the pendulum swings back at least somewhat towards facilitating shared couches in upcoming games. Technological advances expanding feasibility would help, but developers ultimately deciding local play warrants resources from the start may be the determining factor.

What do you think? Does the loss of split-screen gaming hit you right in the nostalgia? Or have you fully embraced yelling at virtual friends through a headset instead? Sound off in the comments!

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