Revolutionizing Split-screen Gaming: Baldur’s Gate 3 Set to Ignite a New Era!
Baldur's Gate 3 breathes new life into split-screen gaming, defying the industry's recent trend Its groundbreaking co-op mode promises to revive the joy of playing together on a single screen, ushering in an exciting era of multiplayer experiences
Highlights
Split-screen multiplayer used to be a popular feature in games, but recent years have seen it decline in favor of online multiplayer.
Larian Studios has reintroduced split-screen multiplayer in Baldur's Gate 3, enhancing the single-player RPG with a cooperative gaming experience. The incorporation of split-screen multiplayer in Baldur's Gate 3 underscores the significance of local co-op and could potentially motivate other game developers to adopt a similar approach.
In the gaming industry, split-screen gaming used to be incredibly popular. However, in recent years, many studios have strayed from this concept and focused on live-service games instead. As a result, consoles have lost some of their appeal, since split-screen gaming was once a vital part of the gaming experience. While a few games, like Traveller's Tales' LEGO games, still prioritize this type of multiplayer, most games have completely abandoned split-screen gameplay. Fortunately, Larian Studios is aiming to bring back this beloved feature with Baldur's Gate 3.
Although Baldur's Gate 3 is mainly a single-player RPG, Larian has incorporated numerous co-op features to create an authentic Dungeons and Dragons experience. Players can not only enjoy the game online with up to three friends, but they can also engage in split-screen multiplayer mode. Regardless of the device they choose, players can experience everything the game has to offer together, all on the same screen. This exciting addition to the formula has the potential to reignite the popularity of split-screen multiplayer.
Baldur's Gate 3 Has Brought Split-screen Multiplayer Back
Split-screen multiplayer used to be a prominent feature that attracted gamers to video game consoles. Popular titles such as Mario Party, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Call of Duty, and Halo were all centered around the idea of playing together with friends on the same couch. While some of these franchises briefly explored online multiplayer, the main focus was on local co-op. This was the norm for many years, until the emergence of services like Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus brought about a significant shift.
Once video game companies realized the potential of online gaming, there was no going back. Many franchises began prioritizing the online space, allocating their resources towards creating captivating multiplayer experiences. As a result, some series chose to abandon split-screen multiplayer altogether, or never incorporated it in the first place. The concept of couch co-op gradually faded away in the AAA gaming sector, with only a limited number of modern games continuing to offer it. Even established franchises like Halo controversially decided to remove split-screen entirely, which garnered mixed reactions from the fanbase.
Nintendo games, Call of Duty, fighting games, and Traveller's Tales' LEGO games are among the few remaining AAA titles that offer split-screen multiplayer. Many other franchises and studios have focused their resources on live-service games instead. The console market, which once prided itself on the ability for players to enjoy multiplayer on a single device and TV, has seemingly moved away from this concept. However, Larian Studios may be able to revive the idea.
In their game Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios made the deliberate choice to include split-screen multiplayer, resulting in an exceptional adventure. Multiplayer is not typically associated with RPGs, but Larian managed to create a unique experience. This decision contributed to Baldur's Gate 3 becoming one of the greatest RPGs ever made and provided players with an authentic Dungeons and Dragons experience. With the right group of people, it can be incredibly enjoyable, and other studios might be inspired to follow suit.
Baldur's Gate 3's split-screen multiplayer may not be its main selling point, but it serves as proof that this concept is still relevant. With its immersive RPG gameplay, players can enjoy countless hours of fun from the comfort of their couch. The inclusion of split-screen multiplayer in Baldur's Gate 3 brings back nostalgia and highlights the importance of incorporating this feature in more games. This game has the potential to reignite the industry's focus on couch co-op. Currently, Baldur's Gate 3 is available on PC, with a PS5 release scheduled for September 6, and an Xbox launch to follow.
