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Split-screen gaming was once very popular, especially when games started to increase in price. In recent years, games with split-screen capabilities haven’t been as prevalent, but this doesn’t mean that co-op gaming is dying. In fact, it’s making a comeback, thanks to online connectivity.

Source: Pexels

More Games are Moving Online

As the years go by, more and more games are moving online. Cloud gaming has made it easier than ever for people to access thousands of titles with just a few clicks. This has led to the creation of niche games and unique variants, such as Red Hot Slingo, and Slingo Racing at Paddy Bingo. Games like this can also be played on a mobile device, making gaming more convenient and accessible to those on the go. As online gaming grew in popularity, so did online co-op. Developers began to release games that allowed friends to play with each other, without having to leave the house. Although split-screen is still very popular, online lobbies allow more than two friends to play together, whether it is as a clan raiding an enemy base or a group of warriors who are fighting against a boss. By moving games online, developers were able to eliminate some of the limitations posed by split-screen gaming. This included being capped at 30FPS, and limited graphics. When split-screen is added as a feature to a game, this can affect performance, as everything doubles and this can make more intensive, or expansive games difficult to run, even with a top-of-the-range graphics card from NVIDIA or AMD.

Source: Pexels

Split-Screen Isn’t Dead

Even though more and more games are moving online, and cooperative gaming is bigger than ever, that doesn’t mean that split-screen is dead. In fact, it still has a major part to play in terms of the gaming market. Developers like Capcom are remastering classic games and bringing them to next-generation consoles in an attempt to target new markets. You also have games that are solely made for split-screen, which are ideal for couples who game, and those who are able to meet at the same location. Couch co-op is, and always will be an essential part of the market, and even though online gaming is on the rise, it will never be able to replace the experience of split-screen for certain audiences. 

When you break everything down, it’s easy to see that split-screen and online co-op games are both thriving. Even though over time, online multiplayer games have rocketed in popularity, there are still titles being released solely for split-screen. Even though they might not be as common, this shows that there’s still a market for them. Cooperative game developers also have more options as a result of the move to online, as graphics and animations can be rendered at a higher frame rate without compromising multiplayer features. You also have the option of connecting people across the world with each other, who although haven’t met, have the same goals in-game and who work together to achieve them. The move to online has resulted in a more connected community, which has certainly bolstered the cooperative gaming market as a whole.