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

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 X|S.

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 players to enjoy. From loveable companions to meet, quests to complete, and a lot of enemies to battle, the world of Larian Studios‘ RPG 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 and a split screen?

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

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Co-op is a one-way ticket to a world of pure, unadulterated chaos.

Yes, Baldur’s Gate 3 supports couch co-op for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X for up to four players.

This allows each player to create their own characters, interact with companions, and complete their own individual story arcs in different ways. Here’s every way you can enjoy the game with other people:

• 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.

How to play couch co-op on PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X

Dexerto/Larian

Create your own lobby or join someone else’s.

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 if they want to use this particular mode. This means you can’t play BG3 with one controller and one keyboard and mouse.

How to launch a new local co-op game together

If you want to create your own co-op game to play with a friend or partner, follow these steps:

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. You could even go for Honor Mode if you’re feeling adventurous.
4. Load the second player: Once the character creation screen has loaded, enable split-screen mode by pressing any button on the PC controller, 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 split screen, sharing the same game instance.

How to join an existing game in co-op

If you feel like joining a game that’s already available, follow these steps:

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.

Couch co-op tips for PC & consoles

Dexerto/Larian Studios

There are a few ways you can make this experience a bit less chaotic.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a huge game with almost endless possibilities. Playing with a friend makes it even bigger and opens up even more options. Before you dive in, check out these tips to help you on your journey:

• 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.
• Split-Screen merge: When you play couch co-op, the screen will be split in two: one half for you and another half for the person you’re playing with. As of Patch 7, whenever both characters are close enough, the split screen will merge.
• Co-op cutscenes: You’re free to carry on exploring while the other player experiences a cutscene or random conversation, but you can also approach them and listen in to merge the split screen.
• 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 with split screen. If you want to show off your expertise with your friends, check out the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes tier list and fastest ways to get XP & level up.