Does Helldivers 2 Have Local Multiplayer? – Explained

Being able to squad up with someone in your living room may be a thing of the past, but some games continue the tradition in the latest generation. Can you play Helldivers 2 locally, or is it multiplayer online only?

Can You Play Helldivers 2 Couch Co-Op?

If you’re hoping to take to the worlds before you with a friend at home, you may be saddened to hear that Helldivers 2 is online only for its multiplayer portion — meaning that you cannot play this game couch co-op unless you happen to have a portable PC that can handle the game. This may be disappointing for those who played the original since it let two players play simultaneously, but there are likely a variety of reasons as to why the sequel is online only.

The first one that I can think of is the change to an over-the-shoulder perspective, compared to the original Helldivers featuring a top-down view of things. While the PlayStation 5 is powerful, rendering the game in split screen may have just been a bit too much if they were looking to keep the game looking as sharp as it does. In a game like this, I’ll gladly take a 60FPS cap compared to a split-screen 30FPS, especially since it looks like things can get hectic rather quickly here.

With the rumors swirling around about an upgraded Pro model of the PlayStation 5, there is a chance that we could see something like split-screen multiplayer get patched into the game if this model can handle it, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. It seems that the online portion of the game is where it’s going to thrive and survive, so if you’re hoping for a new couch co-op shooter, you may need to look to different avenues to ensure that you can fill that void.

Make sure to keep your eyes peeled on our Helldivers 2 section below to learn more about the game and find out what other kinds of surprises lay waiting for you, or to just find out if the game is available on PlayStation + if you’re eager to try it out.