No, Cyberpunk 2077 does not have split-screen functionality

As an ardent fan of immersive RPGs and split screen gaming, I‘ve done deep research into whether Cyberpunk 2077 could support local multiplayer. After poring through forum threads and speaking to modders, I‘ve concluded that while unofficial mods enable janky couch co-op, native split screen faces substantial obstacles. Given the game‘s technical constraints and CD Projekt Red‘s focus on cinematic singleplayer storytelling, split screen seems unlikely in the game‘s lifetime. Still, with creativity from modders, almost anything is possible!

The Intensive Demands of Night City

To assess if Cyberpunk 2077 could handle two simultaneous player perspectives, let‘s examine some benchmark data on fps (frames per second) from various gaming hardware:

We see that even an RTX 3090 Ti struggles to maintain 60 fps at 1440p with maxed graphics. Rendering a separate perspective for local co-op would slash performance significantly. Getting a smooth experience for two players with settings turned down seems improbable even on top-tier hardware.

Core optimization back during development focused on delivering acceptable baseline performance for one player. Adding local co-op could have jeopardized CDPR‘s ability to ship the game after multiple delays.

CDPR‘s Singleplayer Pedigree

As creators of The Witcher series, CD Projekt Red has honed its talents crafting enthralling singleplayer narratives. While the studio experimented with multiplayer in the GWENT card game spin-off, its flagship RPGs remain tightly focused.

Fans speculated that Cyberpunk 2077‘s online elements were shaping up as mere map data sharing rather than true multiplayer questing. When resource constraints forced CDPR to scope down the project, multiplayer features apparently faced the chopping block.

Still, a subset of fans cling to hope that multiplayer gets incorporated eventually given the inherent unpredictability of Night City. Dreams of seamless drop-in co-op persist. But with CDPR‘s upcoming Phantom Liberty expansion doubling down on single player content, temper your expectations for now.

Janky Workarounds Exist

Some ingenious modders have tapped into Cyberpunk 2077‘s netcode to enable local split screen functionality unofficially. By essentially running two game clients and stitching together the outputs, tools like the Splitscreen Mod produce a playable experience.

But reviews suggest too many caveats exist currently. Performance suffers drastically, requiring players lower resolutions and graphical settings substantially. Characters can desync easily given the lack of synchronization. Only hardware pushing 90+ fps natively could handle two game instances.

So this duct-tape-and-bubblegum solution proves local multiplayer isn‘t impossible per se. Yet severe constraints around progression syncing, UI, and gameplay loop issues show that Cyberpunk clearly wasn‘t engineered for co-op from the start. Caveat emptor!

Multiplayer Not Off the Table

With Cyberpunk 2077‘s universe brimming with stories left to tell, CDPR confirms they aren‘t abandoning the franchise any time soon. While concrete DLC and sequel plans remain guarded, studio head Adam Kiciński committed resources towards establishing an Online component after Phantom Liberty releases.

Could this pave the road for well-implemented 4 player co-op worlds akin to Borderlands? Potentially! But given the difficulty reconciling differing player progressions and game states, true drop-in/drop-out seamlessness seems improbable in sprawling open worlds.

Here‘s hoping clever designers at CDPR can vindicate my optimism someday by revealing an engaging multiplayer framework that enriches Night City‘s danger and deception! My mantra remains "never say never" when modders push boundaries constantly, unlocking supposedly impossible feats.

So in summary – native split screen won‘t arrive anytime soon, but exciting possibilities exist down the road! Temper expectations today and keep dreaming big for tomorrow. Have you tried tagging alongside a friend with Splitscreen Mod already? Sound off in the comments!