No Split-Screen Support For Borderlands 2 On PC; Community Makes Split-Screen Happen Anyway

Gearbox Software has confirmed that the PC version of Borderlands 2 will not support local split-screen due to technical difficulties. However, PC gamers are a rag-tag bunch of opportunists and utilitarians and there are already methods floating around on how to get split-screen support for the popular co-op title.

First up, there aren't a lot of PC multiplayer games with split-screen support to begin with. Back in the day split-screen was difficult on PC because monitors were clunky and small and there just wasn't a lot of room to adequately play. As times have changed, most PCs nowadays can plug-n-play directly into an HDTV or a 3DTV and that means that you're no longer dealing with clunky, small screens. Controller support has also vastly improved up to the point where you can plug-n-play most games either with Wii-Motes if you have a bluetooth dongle or with Xbox 360 or PS3 controllers if you have something as simple as a USB hub. However, even with all the technological advancements to make split-screen play more convenient for PC...split-screen play is rarely supported save for a few odd racing titles or action RPGs here and there.

With all that said, many gamers found the split-screen support in the original Borderlands on home consoles to be a serious highlight. At the same time, many PC gamers lamented the lack of split-screen even though it's a frowned-upon feature in many PC gaming circles. Nevertheless, eager PC gamers took to Twitter to ask Gearbox about whether they could play Borderlands 2 with a divided screen on PC and here's what Gearbox had to say...

Quite naturally, many sad faces were made.

However, the PC gaming community is resilient and with a little Googling around it appears that split-screen support is not some far-off monstrosity. A common way to play split-screen Borderlands is via multi-monitor support and it's probably a safe bet that this method will still work with Borderlands 2 as showcased in the video below.

Nevertheless, additional guides get a bit more technical for PC gamers out there who don't have multi-monitors. What about people who just have a single TV or monitor and want to do split-screen? Believe it or not, there are actually guides out there to get split-screen support for Borderlands on a single viewing source setup. As outlined in two guides, one from the Zetaboards and one from Steam's forums detailing how to get some great half (or quarter) screen multiplayer mayhem going.

So while Gearbox may find that Borderlands 2 split-screen support is something that isn't feasible due to technical reasons, it appears the gaming community is finding ways around that hurdle anyways. It'll be interesting if a group manages to create an official split-screen mod for Borderlands 2 sort of like what the community accomplished with Unreal Tournament 3 and Quake II.

On the bright side, console gamers will still get two-player split-screen co-op in Borderlands 2, so that's good news for coach goers who like blasting things in the head while playing side-by-side with a local co-op partner.

Borderlands 2 is set for release this September for home consoles and PC. If you're really itching for that split-screen action you can learn more about the game over at the Official Website. And here's yet another video showcasing how to get split-screen to work for Borderlands on PC...happy hunting.