No, Risk of Rain 2 does not currently support split screen on PlayStation 4
As an avid Risk of Rain fan eager to share my PS4 couch co-op adventures, I wish I didn‘t have to lead with this unfortunate news. But based on extensive research and repeated attempts to activate a hidden split screen mode, I can definitively say Risk of Rain 2 does NOT natively support split screen functionality on PlayStation 4.
It‘s a shame considering Risk of Rain 2‘s core gameplay loop lends itself so nicely to coordinated local multiplayer. As a roguelike third person shooter with RPG elements, playing with friends amplifies the frantic fun tenfold.
If only we could gather around the TV to battle the chaotic planet of Petrichor V together. Alas, Developer Hopoo Games has not yet brought official split screen capabilities to PS4.
Below I‘ll compare Risk of Rain 2‘s split screen support across platforms, investigate workarounds for PS4, and suggest alternative couch co-op gems to fill the void…
An overview of Risk of Rain 2‘s genre-blending gameplay
For those unfamiliar with Risk of Rain 2, let me catch you up to speed on why gamers are clamoring for local co-op…
The game blends third-person shooting, roguelike procedurally generated levels, RPG-style character progression, and horde survival multiplayer into an addicting formula. It‘s a sequel to the classic 2D sidescroller Risk of Rain.
On paper, combining all these genres seems like it wouldn‘t work. But in practice, Risk of Rain 2 is an absolute blast and greater than the sum of its parts.
The goal in each run is to fight through hordes of aliens, gather loot, level up your character, and eventually obliterate the planet. Easier said than done! With friends by your side taking on various classes, you stand a better chance at survival.
And that‘s exactly why couch co-op is so enticing. Strategizing to survive chaotic battles with a buddy by your sidefeels so much more impactful than playing solo or relying on the coordination of random online teammates.
An engaging gameplay loop built for cooperative fun
The core gameplay loop goes like this:
Spawn onto a procedural planet with a friend
Loot chests for items to boost stats and abilities
Fight hordes of aliens and towering bosses
Teleport to the next stage to do it again
Increase in strength after each timed stage
Repeat until you inevitably die
Rinse and repeat! The joy comes from seeing how long you can last while unlocking new characters and items that change up each run.
Add in four player local mayhem and you can imagine why a split screen couch co-op mode seems like such a perfect fit for Risk of Rain 2.
Unfortunately, console support for this dream scenario is limited as we‘ll explore next…
A platform comparison – who gets split screen capabilities?
Risk of Rain 2 is available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. But only the PC version can utilize split screen co-op through modding.
Here‘s a breakdown showing multiplayer support variations by platform:
| Platform | Online Multiplayer | Offline Co-op | Split Screen |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | Yes | Yes (via mods) | Yes (via mods) |
| PS4 | Yes | No | No |
| Xbox One | Yes | No | No |
| Nintendo Switch | Yes | No | No |
As you can see, PS4 falls short when it comes to local co-op capabilities. And trust me, I‘ve scoured forums and tested every trick to try activating a hidden split screen mode to no avail.
Without developer supported modding, the console versions simply don‘t allow for sharing a screen. Such a bummer!
Now let‘s explore exactly how the PC edition pulls off split screen co-op thanks to its open mod system…
Playing Risk of Rain 2 split screen on PC through modding
The silver lining is that PC players can experience Risk of Rain 2 with couch co-op or split screen functionality by taking advantage of mods!
Mods are third party plugins that augment the base game with new assets, capabilities, quality of life tweaks, and more. Risk of Rain 2 supports mods via the Steam Workshop ecosystem.
Popular mods like SplitscreenEnabler and NucleusCoop allow you to configure and launch a split screen instance of Risk of Rain 2. The process goes like this:
- Subscribe to SplitscreenEnabler mod on Steam Workshop
- Launch NucleusCoop mod
- Select Risk of Rain 2 from your library
- Choose 2/3/4 players
- Adjust screen layout
And voila! You‘ll be dropped into a split screen co-op session perfect for your PC gaming couch setup.
It does require some heavy lifting from your hardware. But the payoff is well worth it for the ability to finally play Risk of Rain 2 local co-op on one machine.
Now if only Hopoo Games could work similar magic directly into the console builds! Which leads us to…
Will official console split screen support come to future Risk of Rain 2 updates?
In an interview with gaming site Stevivor on August 3rd 2022, Risk of Rain 2‘s directors were asked point blank "Do you have any plans to introduce local split-screen co-op on console?"
Their response:
"We don‘t have any current plans to introduce splitscreen."
So it sadly seems couch co-op is still not a priority for Hopoo‘s console support roadmap. Without developer backing, modding splits for PS4 or Xbox remains an impossibility.
I‘ll continue to hold out hope that they hear fans‘ split screen requests loud and clear for a future update. Risk of Rain 2 already supports up to 4 player online co-op on all platforms after all.
Perhaps if the PS4/Xbox communities continue rallying we‘ll someday get an official local multiplayer mode. But I won‘t be holding my breath for 2023 at least.
Great alternatives for PS4 couch co-op fun
Even without the ability to share a screen, Risk of Rain 2 still provides stellar online cooperative play on PS4. Joining public games or privately teaming up with friends leads to utter chaotic fun.
However, I realize many gamers, myself included, crave the true local multiplayer experience. There‘s just something special about handing your buddy a controller and teaming up in real-time right next to each other.
Thankfully the PS4 boasts a fantastic library of couch co-op options across many genres. Here are 12 of my top alternatives to fill that Risk of Rain 2 shaped void on your couch…
| Game | Genre | Metacritic Score | # of Players | Split screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overcooked | Cooking Sim | 81% | 4 | Yes |
| It Takes Two | Platformer | 88% | 2 | Yes |
| Borderlands 3 | Looter Shooter | 83% | 4 | Yes |
| Call of Duty Black Ops 4 | FPS | 83% | 4 | Yes |
| Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville | Hero Shooter | 73% | 2 | Yes |
| Minecraft | Sandbox | N/A | 4 | Yes |
| Lego Games (Marvel, Star Wars, etc) | Action Adventure | 80%+ | 2 | Yes |
| A Way Out | Story Driven | 74% | 2 | Yes |
| Rocket League | Sports | 87% | 4 | Yes |
| Worms W.M.D | Turn-Based Combat | 80% | 6 | Yes |
| Diablo III | Action RPG | 88% | 4 | Yes |
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | Fighting | 80% | 2 | Yes |
| Rayman Legends | Platformer | 92% | 4 | Yes |
Plenty of couch friendly fun to be had! Co-op games span all sorts of genres from sports to RPGs to platformers. I‘d recommend It Takes Two or Overcooked 2 as my top alternatives to capture Risk of Rain 2‘s spirit of chaotic co-op challenges.
Let‘s keep our fingers crossed that someday local split screen gets patched into Risk of Rain 2 on PS4. But for now, gather your couch buddies for some online multiplayer mayhem or test out these stellar co-op offerings instead!
So that covers the current state of split screen on PS4 plus alternatives to fill the void. I‘ll continue to monitor Risk of Rain and share updates if we ever get the couch co-op support we deserve!
