How to play Splitscreen Coop in Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC & Steam Deck.
If you want to play Baldur’s Gate 3 in Splitscreen Coop on PC this article will show you how and some of the requirements you’ll need to meet in order for it to work. It’s also worth mentioning that playing Baldur’s Gate 3 in Coop on PC will push your hardware a little more intensely so don’t expect the extract same performance you get in a single player.
Related: How to Fix Baldur's Gate 3 Error Failed To Load The Main Menu From The Current Game Mod.
Split screen coop isn’t something you see all that often in modern games but it used to be the most popular way for people to play together on both PC and consoles. While there are still a few games like It Takes Two, Gears of War and Divinity Original Sin II that allow local split-screen coop, finding out that it’s also an option in Baldur’s Gate 3 was quite a surprise.
As with most Splitscreen coop options in modern games, it isn’t as straightforward as it used to be, especially on PC and even more so on Steam Deck. For example, there is one major requirement a lot of people won’t be too happy about, having to use two controllers. Sadly it is not possible to play with one person using a keyboard and mouse and the other using a controller. You will need two controllers to play Baldur’s Gate 3 split-screen coop on PC.
Important: Disable Steam inputs to avoid control conflicts. This can be done by right-clicking the game in your Steam library, selecting Properties, and then disabling Steam inputs under Controller Settings.
How do you Play Splitscreen Coop in Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC?
Depending on your current situation there are two different ways to start playing Baldur’s Gate 3 in Splitscreen Coop.
METHOD 1: Connecting Controllers During Gameplay
- Initiate the game and have both controllers connected.
- Wait for the first player to either reach the character creation screen or enter the game world.
- Press any button on the second controller to enable couch multiplayer. Note: Player two will need to go through character creation on half of the screen.
METHOD 2: Utilizing the Multiplayer Option
- Access the main menu and select the multiplayer option.
- Create a new game session.
- During the process of adding additional players, use the second controller to include another player.
Baldur's Gate 3 Split Screen on the Steam Deck?
The split-screen functionality of Baldur's Gate 3 on the Steam Deck is currently unavailable. Larian Studios' director of publishing mentioned on Twitter that the small screen size of the Steam Deck makes implementing this feature challenging. While some users connect the Steam Deck to their TV for a larger display, the feasibility of local co-op on such a small screen remains uncertain for now.
Does Baldur’s Gate 3 Splitscreen Coop use more system resources?
As we mentioned at the very start of this guide, playing Baldur’s Gate 3 in Splitscreen coop will use more system resources and push your hardware a considerable amount more, especially during battles and cutscenes when the game essentially renders everything twice, albeit in a smaller window. That said, if you have a decent PC you shouldn’t have any major issues, just don’t expect to get the full 144FPS you usually get etc.