Split-screen is returning to Black Ops, but there's bad news for game night

It might not be the most popular way to play Call of Duty anymore, but for those who do enjoy split-screen game nights with a bag of popcorn and a room full of Zombies to shoot at, couch play is one of the more cherished times to enjoy everything that the franchise has to offer.

But Black Ops 6 might end these fabled parties, as split-screen is coming, but with a catch. For Black Ops 6, four-way split-screen is being left behind, and anyone on an old console will have to either pack-a-punch or look elsewhere for local-play fun.

Black Ops 6 to support two-way Split-screen on next-gen consoles

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As circulated on Reddit, Activision has confirmed that Black Ops 6 will only support split-screen on new-generation consoles and will not have four-player support. 

"Split-screen gameplay (two players sharing a screen) for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5," Activision's blog post reads.

This indicates that the usual four-way split-screen won't return, despite Zombies being confirmed to be four-player compatible with a new set squad.

"Split-screen gameplay will not be supported on Xbox One or PlayStation 4," Activision added.

The blog also confirmed that Black Ops 6 needs an internet connection to play, which further puts a strain on those players who like to casually graze through a campaign or shoot Zombies on the sofa with friends and caused mass confusion about how the Game Pass service works. 

As to why the split-screen changes have come, it appears to be an optimisation issue, stating "performance integrity". Of course, spilt-screen also can't be monetised either, so there's not much reason for plundering mass resources into such pristine local coop mode.

Still, it's a bitter day for that small community, and CoD parties might remain a memory of our teenage years.