Is There 4 Player Split Screen in Cold War Zombies?
The short answer is no, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War does not support 4-player split screen in its Zombies mode. While the game does offer split-screen functionality, it’s limited to a maximum of two players on a single console. This restriction applies to both online and local play. Despite the potential disappointment for some, Cold War Zombies still offers a robust cooperative experience, just not with four players sharing a single screen. Let’s dive deeper into the nuances of split-screen and other multiplayer options within Cold War Zombies.
Understanding Split-Screen Limitations in Cold War Zombies
The primary reason for the lack of 4-player split-screen in Cold War Zombies stems from the technical demands of rendering such a graphically intensive game across multiple viewpoints simultaneously on a single console. While modern consoles have considerable processing power, splitting the screen more than twice while maintaining a stable framerate and acceptable visual fidelity in a zombie-filled environment is a challenging task.
Essentially, split screen in Cold War means that the game’s screen is divided in half to accommodate two players. This allows for two people to play the same game at once on the same console and screen. It is a great way to play with someone you live with without each needing their own console and game, but it doesn’t support more than 2 players. While this limits the total number of local players, it still enables a classic, couch co-op experience, a feature that is often missed in modern multiplayer games. Remember, this limit of two players split screen applies whether you are playing online or offline.
Online vs. Local Play
It’s also crucial to understand the distinction between online and local play when discussing split screen. Online play refers to connecting to the internet and playing with or against other players. Local play usually refers to being in the same physical location, and playing on one console or across a local area network. In the context of Cold War Zombies, when you are playing with someone next to you using split screen, it is considered local play. The limitations of split screen regarding number of players is the same for both of these scenarios. While you can play with up to four people online, only two of those people can play on the same console in split screen.
Alternatives to 4-Player Split Screen in Cold War Zombies
Although 4-player split-screen isn’t an option, there are other ways to enjoy the full cooperative potential of Cold War Zombies:
Online Co-op
The primary method to engage in 4-player zombie-slaying is through online cooperative play. This mode allows up to four players to team up and fight through hordes of zombies. Each player can use their own console and screen, eliminating the split-screen limitations. This is the most common way players experience Cold War Zombies with a full team. You can join a public match or invite friends to a private lobby.
Combo Co-op
Cold War Zombies supports “combo co-op,” allowing two players on a single console via split-screen to join forces with two other players online on their own consoles. This means you can have three or four people playing together even if two of them are sharing a couch and a screen. This feature allows you to bridge the gap between local and online play, providing a flexible way to play with friends, regardless of their proximity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Cold War Zombies Split Screen and Multiplayer
Here are some frequently asked questions to provide further clarification:
1. Can I play Cold War Zombies with 4 players on one screen?
No, you can’t play Cold War Zombies with 4 players on a single split-screen. The game supports a maximum of two players in split screen.
2. Is split screen available on all platforms for Cold War Zombies?
Yes, split-screen is generally available on console versions of Cold War Zombies, but not on PC.
3. Can I play split screen both online and offline in Cold War Zombies?
Yes, split screen is available for both online and offline play in Cold War Zombies. However, the limit of two players on a single screen applies in both scenarios.
4. Can you play with 3 players in Cold War Zombies split screen?
No, Cold War Zombies does not support 3-player split screen. You can only play with two players in split-screen on one console.
5. Does Cold War support 4 player online zombie mode?
Yes, Cold War supports 4-player online zombie mode. You can team up with three other players through a public or private match online.
6. What Call of Duty games have 4 player split-screen Zombies?
Call of Duty: Black Ops III supports 4-player split-screen in local play, but other Call of Duty titles such as World at War, Black Ops 1, and Black Ops 2 were limited to two player split screen.
7. How many players can play split-screen in Black Ops 4 Zombies?
Black Ops 4 supports 4 player split screen in Zombies mode, but only in local play. For online matches, the split screen is limited to 2 players.
8. How many players can play split-screen in Black Ops 3 Zombies?
Black Ops 3 supports 2-player split-screen for online gameplay and 4-player split-screen in local play for Multiplayer and Zombies modes.
9. Can two players on split screen join with two others playing online in Cold War Zombies?
Yes, Cold War Zombies supports combo co-op, allowing two split-screen players on one console to team up with two other players online on separate consoles.
10. What are the best Call of Duty games for Zombies?
While subjective, some of the most highly regarded Call of Duty Zombies experiences include: Black Ops 3, Black Ops Cold War, Black Ops, World at War, and Black Ops 2.
11. How big is the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War install size?
The full install size can vary greatly but, the multiplayer-only install size can be reduced to approximately 50GB to save space.
12. What is the best way to play Cold War Zombies with 4 people?
The best way to play with 4 people is to use the online cooperative mode, or combo co-op where two people are using a split-screen console and the other two are playing online on separate devices.
13. Does Cold War support split screen for multiplayer?
Yes, Cold War supports split-screen for multiplayer, allowing two players on the same console to play together.
14. Does the Campaign in Cold War support split-screen co-op?
Yes, Cold War’s Campaign mode supports up to two players locally with a horizontal split-screen.
15. Is 4-player split screen a feature on any other Zombie games?
Zombie Army 4 is a zombie game that supports up to 4 player co-op, but not specifically with a 4 player split screen on a single console.
Conclusion
While the absence of 4-player split-screen in Cold War Zombies might be disappointing to some, the game still offers compelling cooperative experiences with its robust online and combo co-op features. Understanding the limitations and available options will help players make the most of their zombie-slaying sessions. Whether you’re sharing the couch with a friend or connecting with teammates online, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War provides diverse ways to battle the undead hordes.