Yes, It Takes Two Supports Split-Screen Co-op on PC!

As a hardcore co-op gaming enthusiast, one of my all-time favorite recent titles has been Hazelight Studios‘ brilliant platformer – It Takes Two. This wacky, varied adventure is purpose-built from the ground up for seamless two-player cooperative play. And I‘m thrilled to confirm it fully supports local split-screen on PC, for couch gaming with a friend right next to you!

A Riveting Co-op Only Romp

Released in March 2021, It Takes Two has received glowing praise as one of the best modern co-op games. It currently holds an outstanding 89 Metascore on Metacritic and 87% positive Steam reviews. Across seven distinct chapters, players take on the roles of tiny doll versions of quarreling couple Cody and May. Each level throws you headfirst into fantastical environments bursting with charm and visual splendor.

You‘ll vacuum your way across shag rugs, sled down snowy hills, paddle leaf boats down a storm drain, manipulate time using magical clocks, and much more zaniness. The game constantly reinvents itself, with unique mechanics and tools tailored around intuitively designed co-op puzzles. Teamwork is mandatory, making communication key. But it finds that perfect sweet spot of keeping you fully engaged with your partner, while rarely becoming frustrating.

It Takes Two has sold over 5 million copies already. As Josef Fares, Hazelight‘s outspoken founder, proclaimed to VentureBeat: "It Takes Two is undoubtedly Hazelight Studios‘ biggest success to date, and the reception from players across the world has been overwhelming." For good reason – playing through this unlikely page-turner of a platformer remains an absolute joy.

Local Co-op Setup

It Takes Two on PC supports both local split-screen and online cooperate play. I‘ll focus first on setting things up for couch co-op.

What You‘ll Need

• A Windows PC meeting the minimum system requirements described below
• Two controllers – Xbox or PlayStation DualShock works best
• A friend!

First, purchase It Takes Two through either Steam or Origin and download it. Boot up the game, then connect both of your controllers. You may need to enable controller support in Steam‘s settings if using DualShocks. The game should automatically detect both controllers and activate split-screen mode!

If for some reason it doesn‘t, there is a setting to toggle it on. Just head into Options > Gameplay and flip Vertical Split Screen to On.

It Takes Two PC Requirements

Here are the official minimum and recommended system requirements for smooth 60 FPS gameplay:

Mid-range gaming rigs featuring a decent CPU like the Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i5-12400 paired with a GTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT should have zero issues hitting high framerates at max settings. The game runs smoothly even on older budget cards like the GTX 1060 or RX 580 though.

I‘ve played local co-op on two very different PCs – my RTX 3070 Ti rig pumps out 100+ FPS at 1440p, while my old office PC with a humble GTX 1050 Ti easily maintains 60 FPS at 1080p low.

Thanks to Hazelight‘s optimization prowess, It Takes Two isn‘t too demanding. You‘ll mostly be held back by your slower machine in split-screen. But it remains playable on surprisingly basic hardware.

Seamless Online Cross-Play Too

It Takes Two also fully supports online co-op for playing together remotely. And this works cross-platform across PC, PlayStation, Xbox consoles and Google Stadia.

The process is simple – only one player needs to own the actual game. Your co-op partner can download the Friend‘s Pass free trial through Origin or Steam to join you. This grants unlimited access to the full experience while playing with you.

Better yet, Hazelight went the extra mile making synchronized progression seamless. Say you play a few hours online with a pal. If you then meet up again locally and switch to split-screen, you‘ll both pick up right from your latest save spot and character progress.

Weighing Local vs Online Co-op Tradeoffs

Both multiplayer options work fantastically. Naturally, local split-screen couch play makes coordinating puzzle solutions a bit easier though. You can quickly point things out or plan ideas. Online introduces a slight communication delay, so getting perfect synchronization down takes a bit more patience.

But playing online is also more convenient for remote friends or partners living apart. Ping times rarely disrupt gameplay much either. Hazelight cleverly built versatility into level designs enabling you to productively cooperate while tackling tasks fairly independently.

Ultimately, I‘d choose local split-screen with the option to seamlessly switch to online as needed. Having both avenues enhances accessibility to fit any situation or preference!

Standout Co-op Design Triumphs Over Tech Limitations

It Takes Two pushes hardware to its limits with gorgeously detailed worlds and buttery smooth animation. Splitting performance across two player views understandably drops fidelity a bit on underpowered hardware.

On my aging office PC, cutscenes clearly take a resolution hit to maintain frame pacing. And visible level of detail pop-in occasionally manifests while whipping the camera around quickly during gameplay.

But the core art direction shines through any tech shortcomings beautifully. Vibrant colors, playful characterizations, and creative environments take center stage. Hazelight smartly adopted a stylized aesthetic for longevity over chasing photorealism.

More importantly, the imaginative co-op mechanics and puzzles aren‘t held back one bit. Playing in local split-screen remains every bit as engaging and challenging as single player visually would. That‘s the key ingredient guaranteeing It Takes Two‘s memorable moments shine through regardless of hardware nitpicks.

It Takes Two Sets Co-op Benchmarks

In my opinion as an avid fan of local multiplayer games, It Takes Two stands out as a benchmark for Couch co-op experiences going forwards across any platform. Too many titles these days focus solely on big-budget single player stories. Or they double down on competitive online matches rather than meaningful cooperation.

It Takes Two flips that trend brilliantly via every design choice emphasizing harmony between players. Surmounting obstacles side-by-side fosters a shared sense of accomplishment binding you closer together. And the Friend‘s Pass system minimizing barriers to playing together feels like a breath of fresh air.

I dream of a gaming landscape encouraging more togetherness through creative couch co-op rather than isolating over competition. Hazelight‘s template offers the perfect foundation. And they fully deliver that vision to living rooms via impeccable local split-screen integration on PC.