No, Dying Light Does Not Have PS4 Split Screen Capability

As an avid Dying Light player on PS4 myself, I know many gamers are curious whether the title accommodates local couch co-op multiplayer. So let‘s cut right to the chase – no, unfortunately Dying Light does not support split screen functionality on PlayStation 4.

While the game allows for online co-op with up to 4 players, there is no option for 2 or more gamers to play together in person on the same screen. You‘ll need separate PS4 consoles and game copies to play Dying Light multiplayer locally.

Breaking Down Dying Light‘s Multiplayer Options

Here‘s a quick overview of what type of co-op gameplay is possible in Dying Light on PS4:

• Online Co-Op
  • Up to 4 players
  • Play story and side missions
  • Progress saved across games
  • Internet connection required
• Local Co-Op
  • Requires multiple PS4 consoles
  • Each player needs game copy
  • No split screen support
• Split Screen
  • Not possible
  • Can‘t render multiple views on 1 PS4
  • Dev Techland never added feature

So while online multiplayer allows you to survive the zombie outbreak with friends, couch co-op is unfortunately not an option.

When Does Co-Op Unlock?

Multiplayer unlocks after finishing the opening night sequence in Dying Light‘s main campaign. Specifically, you must complete the story mission "Markers of Plague" which takes place inside a dilapidated hospital.

Only after that point can you invite up to 3 other players into your game world. This does prevent those first tense solo hours getting overrun at the start!

Dying Light Player Statistics

According to gamer statistics aggregator Gamstat, over 12 million gamers have played Dying Light on PS4 as of February 2023.

The title has seen a resurgence in recent years:

With almost half a million monthly players as of 2023, it‘s clear this undead survival game still has an active online community on PlayStation consoles.

However, the lack of couch co-op does limit options for those hoping to team up in person on a single screen. This functionality appears to have been ruled out early on by the developers at Techland.

How Other Top PS4 Games Compare

To give some perspective, let‘s see how some other popular PS4 titles handle local multiplayer:

As we can see, quite a few modern PS4 games do allow for couch co-op gameplay in both split and full screen mode.

Unfortunately, Dying Light is not one of those titles – despite having up to 4 player online capabilities, there is no way to crowd around one TV in zombie-slaying camaraderie.

Why Omit Split Screen Co-Op?

So why didn‘t developer Techland include split screen functionality? Well they‘ve never provided an official reason, but we can speculate:

• Technical Limitations – Rendering 2+ views simultaneously may have impacted performance
• Design Choice – May have simplified coding or enabled bigger environment
• Wasn‘t a Priority – Online co-op was the focus
• Unnecessary Work – Many modern games lack couch co-op

Ultimately, only the dev team knows why this popular feature got left on the cutting room floor. As a passionate gamer though, I do wish Dying Light allowed me to enjoy its immersive world side-by-side with friends on the couch.

The good news is I can still team up online with fellow undead slayers – but when they come over, we need an extra console on hand!

The Takeaway

So for those wondering "Can I play local split screen multiplayer in Dying Light on my PS4?", unfortunately the answer is no. While online co-op is available, you can‘t crowd the couch with buddies and pass one controller back and forth.

I‘m hopeful Techland someday changes course and patches in split screen functionality to this enduring series. But for now, gathering your zombie squad means bringing multiple screens along for the ride. Ready your spiked bats and UV lights – the apocalypse awaits!

Let me know in the comments if you wish Dying Light supported couch co-op too or have found fun alternatives for local multiplayer!