Yes, You Can Enjoy 2 Player Split Screen Racing in Forza Motorsport 7
As a long-time gearhead and racing game fanatic, one of my favorite things is battling a friend in split screen competition. So when a new Forza title drops, my first question is – can I play local multiplayer with someone on the same couch?
I‘m thrilled to report that Forza Motorsport 7 delivers thrilling 2 player split screen action! Read on for everything you need to know to tear up the track against a buddy in FM7.
Activating Split Screen in Forza 7
Getting split screen going is quick and easy:
- Turn on two controllers paired to your Xbox One
- Log into separate profiles for each player (main account + guest works)
- Launch Forza Motorsport 7
- Player 2 hits start to join the race!
And you‘re off to the races in side-by-side competition.
Optimizing the Split Screen Experience
To ensure smooth performance while rendering two views, FM7 scales down visual effects and resolution while in split screen mode. But a few tweaks can help maximize enjoyment:
- Reduce number of AI opponents to lower processing demands
- Close unnecessary apps and games running in background
- If playing offline, disconnect console from internet to devote more system resources to the game
- Use a wired internet connection for better response if playing online
- Select smaller tracks like Bernese Alps that require less rendering
Experiment to find the right balance for your setup between graphical flashiness and maximum frames per second.
How FM7 Stacks Up for Local Multiplayer
Many recent AAA racing titles have axed split screen, citing technical limitations. Seeing this beloved feature return in FM7 is a breath of fresh air for those yearning for side-by-side competition.
| Game | Split Screen | Max # Local Players | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5 | No | 1 | Open world too demanding |
| Forza Horizon 4 | No | 1 | |
| Need for Speed Heat | No | 1 | |
| Gran Turismo Sport | No | 1 | VR only local multiplayer |
| Project CARS 3 | No | 1 | |
| Forza Motorsport 7 | Yes | 2 | Split screen on Xbox One |
| Dirt 5 | Yes | 4 | Split screen rally racing chaos! |
As this table illustrates, FM7 stands in rare company nowadays as a AAA racing simulator with split screen support.
The Mysterious Removal of Split Screen Racing
In the Xbox 360 and PS2 era, practically every racing game featured split screen multiplayer. It was a staple! But as graphics and processing demands advanced to new heights in recent generations, most developers cut local co-op.
Supposedly this choice comes down to technical limitations – drawing multiple viewpoints taxes the CPU and GPU. Yet games like Dirt 5 prove straying from photorealism enables smooth split screen racing.
As a longtime fan, this trend has been infuriating to witness. The golden joy of gaming is playing together in same room! Nothing beats trash talking your buddies as you jostle for position.
Fortunately Turn 10 Studios insisted on incorporating 2 player split screen into Forza Motorsport 7. Kudos to them for standing up for this beloved feature when so many others abandoned it.
Tips for Dominating in Split Screen
Now for the good stuff – how to smoke your friends in FM7 split screen battles!
- Master drifting: Chain long drifts to built nitrous boosts faster than opponents
- Tune gear ratios: Prioritize acceleration and launch speeds for rapid fire track position leapfrogging
- Be slippery: Choose streamlined, low-drag designs to slingshot past in straightaways
- Get sneaky: In rearview mirror, watch their braking points and poach inside apexes when they overshoot turns!
- Mock mercilessly: Rattle their focus with well-timed verbal jabs as you zoom by their flaming wreck 😉
Do whatever it takes to trip up your opponent‘s mental game while nailing perfect driving lines. Familiarity with courses always pays off too.
The Future of Split Screen Racing in Forza
While I‘m overjoyed to shred virtual rubber with buddies again in FM7, questions remain about the franchise going forward:
- Does the Forza Motorsport reboot keep split screen?
- Any chance co-op comes back to Horizon series?
- Could 4 player local multiplayer return some day?
We may need to temper hopes as the visual standard bar rises ever higher. But as long as split screen remains technically feasible, developers would be wise to retain it for fans craving shared screen competition.
For now, grab a controller to challenge your mates in Forza Motorsport 7! Just be prepared for ruthless battles as you vie for pixelated bragging rights. Powersliding across the finish line first never gets old.
Let me know which cars and tracks you find work best for split screen face-offs! Now quit reading and go play FM7 with your friends 🙂
Which modern racing games still incorporate your favorite local multiplayer features? Share your thoughts in comments!
