How to play Baldur’s Gate 3 couch co-op on PC, PS5 & Xbox Series

As an RPG, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a fantastic game to play with friends, but is there an option for local play? Here’s all you need to know about couch co-op for Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series.

Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 is an immensely popular RPG that initially launched on PC and has since made its way to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S for console fans to enjoy. From loveable companions to meet, quests to complete, and a lot of enemies to battle, the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 is massive.

The game is also a perfect experience to enjoy with friends, but is it possible to play with them by your side with couch co-op? Here’s everything we know about local play for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Contents

• What is couch co-op in Baldur’s Gate 3?
  • Does Baldur’s Gate 3 support couch co-op?
• How to play Baldur’s Gate 3 couch co-op
• Baldur’s Gate 3 couch co-op tips for PC & consoles

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What is couch co-op in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Couch co-op, also known as local multiplayer or split-screen mode, lets two players play the game simultaneously on the same console by sharing the screen.

Does Baldur’s Gate 3 support couch co-op?

Yes, Baldur’s Gate 3 supports couch co-op for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. This allows each player to interact with companions and complete their own individual story arcs in different ways.

• Two players in one device using split-screen mode.
• Two players sharing one device with split screen, combined with one or two more players on their own devices.
• Two players sharing one device with split screen, combined with two more players doing the same.

Unfortunately, local co-op isn’t available on Xbox Series S, likely due to the console’s lower processing power.

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How to play Baldur’s Gate 3 couch co-op on PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X

Firstly, to play couch co-op with a friend, you’re going to need two controllers ready, as each player will need one to play Baldur’s Gate 3 couch co-op mode.

Due to the game not having controller and keyboard/mouse mixed support, PC players will have to get two controllers too in case they want to use this particular mode.

How to launch a new local co-op game together

1. Launch the Game: Start Baldur’s Gate 3 on your PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X.
2. Click New Game: Choose “New Game” from the main menu
3. Choose difficulty: Select from the Explorer (easy), Balanced (medium), or Tactician (hard) difficulties
4. Load the second player: Once the character creation screen has loaded, enable split-screen mode by pressing any button on the PC, the X on the PS5 controller, or A if you’re using Xbox.
5. Begin Your Adventure: After completing the character selection process, both players can now play Baldur’s Gate 3 on the same screen, sharing the same game instance.

How to join an existing game together

1. Launch the Game: Start Baldur’s Gate 3
2. Load game: Click “Continue” to load into your existing save
3. Load the second player: Once the game has loaded, simply press X or A on the second controller to enable split-screen mode.
4. Continue your adventure: Player two will be able to either create a new character or choose an existing one from the party.

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Couch co-op tips for PC & consoles

Performance: Playing in split-screen mode on any device may switch the game to 30 FPS mode, even if you were previously in Performance mode. This is to ensure smooth gameplay for both players.

Player Limit: The game currently supports a two-player limit for split-screen. While the idea of a four-player local co-op sounds exciting (but chaotic), the current hardware constraints of the consoles make it challenging.

Experience: Playing couch co-op offers a unique experience. Both players can role-play as their characters, embark on individual story arcs, and interact with different party members.

That’s all you need to know about Baldur’s Gate 3 local play mode. For more guides and content, check the list below:

Best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes tier list | How to revive characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Can you multiclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Baldur’s Gate 3: Fastest ways to get XP & level up | Baldur’s Gate 3: How to respec your character