Is Cold War Zombies 3 Player Split-Screen? The Definitive Guide
The short answer is no, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies does not support 3-player split-screen. While the game does offer a split-screen feature for co-op play, it is limited to only two players on a single console. This limitation applies to both online and local play, meaning you cannot have three players sharing one screen to battle the undead horde. This has left many fans, particularly those who enjoy local multiplayer with their friends, disappointed.
This restriction is especially frustrating considering the series’ history with varying levels of split-screen support, and it’s a common point of confusion for players eager to jump into zombie slaying action together. Black Ops Cold War’s focus on 2 player splitscreen may stem from performance considerations or technical limitations. Regardless of the reason, this article will dive deeper into the split-screen capabilities of Cold War Zombies, explore related features in other Call of Duty titles, and answer some frequently asked questions about co-op play in the series.
Understanding Split-Screen Limitations in Cold War Zombies
The core functionality of split-screen in Black Ops Cold War is restricted to two players. This means that regardless of the game mode—whether you are playing locally or trying to join an online game with friends, if you are on the same console you can only have two players. The 2-player limit also applies to both regular multiplayer and zombies. While this is still great for duos who like to play together, this limit is in contrast to some older Call of Duty games, which allowed for more players in offline play.
It’s important to note that the four-player online co-op mode remains intact. You can still team up with three other players online, but if these four are playing on just one console then the split-screen option becomes unavailable. This restriction means if you have three or four players at home wanting to play Cold War zombies, some players will need to join on separate consoles via a system link or online.
Why Only Two Players?
The decision to limit split-screen to two players likely stems from several factors:
- Performance: Running multiple split-screen views simultaneously on a single console requires significant processing power and graphical resources. Limiting to two players is likely a measure to ensure a smooth and playable experience.
- Technical Limitations: Developing and maintaining stable split-screen functionality across various console generations and platforms can be challenging. Focusing on optimizing two-player split-screen might have been a more manageable development priority.
- Focus on Online Play: In recent years, many games have emphasized online multiplayer experiences. While local split-screen is still appreciated by many, it might have taken a backseat in terms of development resources.
Comparing to Other Call of Duty Titles
To better understand Cold War’s split-screen limitations, it’s helpful to compare it with other games in the Call of Duty franchise:
- World at War: This title, which first introduced the Zombies mode, offered two-player local split-screen and four-player online co-op.
- Black Ops: Similar to World at War, Black Ops supported two-player local split-screen in Zombies and 4 player online play.
- Black Ops 2: This iteration also had two-player split-screen for Zombies and 4-player online support.
- Black Ops 3: This game had a more generous approach and allowed four-player local split-screen for Multiplayer, but Zombies was limited to 2-player split screen.
- Black Ops 4: Notably, Black Ops 4 did not have a single-player campaign. Instead, it offered two-player split-screen for Blackout and Multiplayer but expanded Zombies to support 4 player split screen.
- Modern Warfare (2019): This reboot did not support split-screen in its campaign or with more than two people on one screen for any mode.
- Modern Warfare II & III (2022-2023): These titles offer 2 player split-screen across both multiplayer and zombies modes.
As you can see, split-screen support has varied across different Call of Duty games, with some titles offering more local multiplayer options than others. Cold War falls into the category of more restrictive split-screen experiences, even if it maintains 4 player online co-op.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To provide even more clarity, here are 15 FAQs related to split-screen and co-op play in Cold War Zombies, as well as related COD titles:
1. Can I play Cold War Zombies with 3 players on one console?
No, Cold War Zombies does not support 3-player split-screen. You can only play with two players on one console.
2. Can I play Cold War Zombies split-screen online?
Yes, you can play two-player split-screen online, but you are still limited to only two players on one console.
3. Is there any way to get 3-player split-screen to work in Cold War Zombies?
Unfortunately, there is no workaround or method to enable 3-player split-screen in Cold War Zombies. The feature is simply not supported in the game.
4. Does Cold War have 4-player split-screen in any mode?
No, Cold War only supports 2-player split-screen in all modes. The 4 player element is only possible when different consoles are involved with an online connection.
5. Can I play 4 player split screen in Black Ops 4 Zombies?
Yes, Black Ops 4 does support 4-player split-screen in Zombies mode, making it a popular choice for local co-op.
6. How many players can play Black Ops 3 Zombies split-screen?
Black Ops 3 Zombies allows for 2 player split-screen locally. However, the multiplayer mode supports 4 player split-screen.
7. What are the split-screen limitations in Call of Duty: World at War?
World at War allows for two-player local split-screen and four players online.
8. Can I play 3-player split-screen in any Call of Duty game?
No, no Call of Duty game officially supports 3-player split-screen. Some games may have had glitches that allow it but were never fully supported.
9. Does Modern Warfare (2019) have split-screen?
Yes, Modern Warfare (2019) has 2-player split-screen in Spec-Ops but not in campaign. However, it is limited to just two players on one screen.
10. What is the best Call of Duty for 4-player split-screen?
Black Ops 3 or Black Ops 4 are often considered the best Call of Duty titles for 4-player split-screen, primarily due to the Zombies modes on Black Ops 4 or multiplayer on Black Ops 3.
11. Can I play the Cold War campaign in split-screen?
No, the Cold War campaign does not support split-screen for local co-op.
12. Does Warzone support split-screen?
No, Warzone does not offer any split-screen functionality.
13. Can I play any Call of Duty zombies offline with 3-4 friends?
Only if they each have their own console. Black Ops 4 has 4 player split screen but, again, the game does not allow 3-player split-screen on one console.
14. How do I fix my split screen in Call of Duty Black Ops 3 zombies?
There can be various controller issues with the split screen in COD Black Ops 3. Try logging in the second controller as a guest account. Go to settings, controller and gamepad then press the menu/options button. Select splitscreen option and try all the options available. If that fails, on the zombies screen itself, have both players continually press the “x” or “a” button several times, this may fix a controller sync issue.
15. Why does COD limit the amount of split screen players?
This is likely due to technical limitations and performance issues. It requires significantly more processing power to render multiple screens simultaneously on a single console.
Conclusion
While Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies offers a compelling co-op experience, it’s unfortunately limited to two-player split-screen on a single console. This restriction might be disappointing for those hoping for a local multiplayer experience with three or more friends. It’s essential to understand these limitations before gathering your group for some zombie action. Despite this, the game offers a solid 4-player online experience, and remains a favorite amongst zombie fans. If 3-4 player local multiplayer is vital for your play sessions, consider exploring other titles in the series, particularly Black Ops 4, as it has a four-player split-screen option. As always, ensure to check the specific features of each Call of Duty title before purchasing to confirm that it meets your preferences.