Can you play Call of Duty Black Ops 6 with Local Multiplayer?

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 local multiplayer is something many fans want as it’s been a part of the series for decades. Playing against your friends or with them in co-op on the couch is a memory many cherish and would like to resume in 2024 and beyond.

Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 split-screen-capable with friends?

Thankfully, you can play both the zombies mode and multiplayer with split-screen functionality. There’s a catch, however. PS4, Xbox One, and PC Call of Duty Black Ops 6 players can’t use split-screen and are only able to play with one player at all times. Only those on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S can play a round of Team Deathmatch with a mate on the couch with split-screen. Simply connect the second controller and have them press A or the cross button at the lobby.

The positive is that the split-screen covers the entire screen with no cut-off sections. It’s fully 16:9. It doesn’t seem like you can play competitively against each other, however. I’ve tried to start a local multiplayer match under the “Private Match” mode and it didn’t connect a second controller.

Does Call of Duty Black Ops 6 need to connect online?

Unfortunately, you’ll need to always be online while playing Call of Duty Black Ops 6, even for the single-player campaign. This means that LAN has become obsolete. At least, some form of Black Ops 6 local multiplayer is supported through split-screen.

Do you need a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass to play Call of Duty Black Ops 6 online?

If you’re playing the game on PS4 and PS5, you’ll need at least PlayStation Plus Essential to access Call of Duty Black Ops 6‘s multiplayer matchmaking. This is the same with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S users with Xbox Game Pass Core and up. Thankfully, both of these services come with free games each month. November 2024, for example, has Ghostwire Tokyo and Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 included with your subscription.