Can You Play 3 Player in Black Ops 4? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of whether Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 supports 3-player gameplay is a common one, particularly among friends looking to team up. The short answer is: no, Black Ops 4 does not natively support 3-player split-screen gameplay. While it does offer split-screen functionality, it’s limited to either two players or four players, depending on the game mode. This article will delve into the specifics of Black Ops 4’s multiplayer options, explaining why 3-player isn’t available, and covering the various other ways you can enjoy the game with friends.

Black Ops 4 Split-Screen: The Breakdown

Black Ops 4 introduced a unique split-screen experience across its various game modes, yet the absence of a 3-player option remains a notable limitation. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

• Multiplayer: Black Ops 4 supports 2-player split-screen in its standard multiplayer modes. This means you can team up with a friend or family member on the same console and play online against other players. The game modes available in split-screen include classics like Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Search & Destroy, and Control.
• Blackout: The battle royale mode, Blackout, also supports 2-player split-screen. This lets you and a friend drop into the battle royale map and work together to try and secure victory. Like multiplayer, this mode only allows for a maximum of two players on the same console.
• Zombies: Here’s where things get more interesting. The Zombies mode in Black Ops 4 supports 4-player split-screen, a welcome feature for zombie slaying enthusiasts. This allows a full squad of players to tackle the undead horde together on a single console. This is one of the few Call of Duty games that offers such a high level of local co-op in Zombies mode.

The key takeaway is that while you can play with multiple people on the same console, you’re limited to either two players for Multiplayer and Blackout, and four players for Zombies. The 3-player configuration isn’t a feature of Black Ops 4.

Why No 3-Player Split-Screen?

The reasons behind the omission of a 3-player split-screen mode aren’t officially stated by Activision. However, several factors are likely at play:

• Technical Limitations: Rendering three separate viewpoints simultaneously on a single console can be technically demanding, potentially leading to performance issues.
• Screen Real Estate: In split-screen, each player gets their own portion of the screen. Three players would require more complex screen partitioning, potentially making the play area feel cramped for each participant.
• Game Design: It’s likely that the game was specifically designed with 2-player and 4-player configurations in mind, impacting various aspects of its core gameplay and balance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Black Ops 4 Multiplayer

To help clarify more about multiplayer features and options in Black Ops 4, here are 15 frequently asked questions:

General Multiplayer

1. Can you play Multiplayer online in Black Ops 4?
   Yes, you can play Black Ops 4 multiplayer online with other players using a standard internet connection. The game features multiple modes, including Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, and Kill Confirmed.

2. Does Black Ops 4 have offline multiplayer?
   Yes, Black Ops 4 allows offline multiplayer through split-screen. In this mode you can only play the Multiplayer or Zombie mode.

3. What game modes are available in Black Ops 4 multiplayer?
   The game modes available in multiplayer include Control, Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Search & Destroy.

4. Can you play against bots in offline multiplayer in Black Ops 4?
   Yes, you can add bots to your offline multiplayer matches. This feature can be used to enhance gameplay or fill in spots when you don’t have multiple players.

5. Is the Battle Edition of Black Ops 4 the same as the standard version?
   No, the Battle Edition of Black Ops 4 only includes Multiplayer and Blackout game modes. The Zombies mode is not included.

Split-Screen Specifics

6. Can you play Blackout in split-screen?
   Yes, Blackout supports 2-player split-screen so you can play the battle royale mode with one other person on the same console.

7. Does split-screen require internet?
   For local, offline split-screen play, you do not need internet. To play online split-screen, you’ll need an active internet connection.

8. Do both split-screen players need a PlayStation Plus/Xbox Live subscription to play online?
   Yes, if you want to play split-screen online, both players will need an active PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscription.

9. Can you play 4-player split-screen in the other game modes besides Zombies?
   No, 4-player split-screen is only available in the Zombies mode. Multiplayer and Blackout are limited to 2-player split-screen.

Zombies Mode

10. Can you play 4-player Zombies locally in split-screen?
    Yes, the Zombies mode supports 4-player split-screen locally. This allows up to four friends to enjoy zombie-slaying on a single console.

11. What are some of the Zombies maps available in Black Ops 4?
    Black Ops 4 features several Zombies maps, including Voyage of Despair, IX, Blood of the Dead, and Classified.

12. Can you play Zombies with more than four players on separate consoles?
    Yes, you can team up with more players by having them join from their own consoles. This way, you can still have 4 players for a Zombies match using multiple game stations.

13. Does Dead Ops Arcade support split-screen in Black Ops 4?
    Yes, Dead Ops Arcade supports 4-player split-screen in Black Ops 4.

Comparing with Other CoD Titles

14. Is the split-screen setup for Black Ops 4 different from past Call of Duty games?
    Yes, many other older Call of Duty titles only offered 2-player split-screen. Black Ops 4 has increased the local player support to 4-players in Zombies mode, whereas it is only 2-players for Multiplayer and Blackout game modes.

15. Which other Call of Duty games allow 3 or 4 player split-screen?
    Black Ops III is a Call of Duty game that allows 4-player local split-screen in both Zombies and Multiplayer modes. Some older titles, like Call of Duty: World at War allowed 4-player co-op, but only offline. Newer titles like Black Ops Cold War have reduced support for split-screen down to 2-players.

Conclusion

While it’s disappointing that Black Ops 4 doesn’t support 3-player split-screen, it compensates with robust 2-player options in Multiplayer and Blackout and fantastic 4-player co-op in Zombies. The absence of the 3-player mode is likely due to technical constraints and design choices, but the existing split-screen options still provide a great way to enjoy the game with friends. Understanding the game’s limitations allows you to better plan your gaming sessions, maximizing the fun with your group.