One of the best additions over the years at Fortnite has been the ability to play games in split-screen mode. This useful feature allows two players to enjoy the Battle Royale game on the same screen without the need for a second console.
Its use has some limitations, but – for the most part – it is a great way for friends and family to experience one of the most popular free games on the market. Here’s how to play Fortnite in split-screen mode.
While Fortnite is available on every system under the sun, split-screen mode is currently limited to the Xbox and PlayStation consoles. This feature was added in 2019 and Epic Games hopes to release this feature for PC and Switch users in future updates.
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Until then, the mode was limited to playing Fortnite on Xbox and Sony consoles. If you run it on a Series X or PS5, you will benefit from frame rates of up to 60 frames per second.
How to start split-screen mode
Getting a friend to join in on the fun is an easy process, and it follows the same steps for all compatible consoles. Before you start, however, make sure you have a second account and controller available for your buddy to use.
Then, follow these easy steps to get split-screen mode running:
- Navigate to the Main Menu.
- Make sure the second controller is connected to your console and is turned on.
- Once connected, the second player should be invited to select their account.
- After signing in, the second player will now appear in the Fortnite lobby.
Not all game modes are compatible
This should come as no surprise, but Solo Mode is not available when playing split-screen. This has an unfair advantage, as two people on the same bed can coordinate their attacks simultaneously and work effectively as a team against the rest of the single players. For that reason, solo mode is not compatible with split-screen play. You cannot even play in Creative Mode or Team Rumble.
Instead, you’ll be stuck with either Squads or Duos. These are the only two modes that work when two players are using the same console, and there’s no word from Epic Games on whether this will change in the future.
You might also want to consider that:
- The split-screen session will end if one player disconnects, even if the other player stays logged in.
- You won’t see each other’s lobby or menu because the screen sharing only starts when a match is in session.
- Players will not share an inventory.
- Both players have to select the same language setting because split-screen can’t handle multiple languages.
Tips for playing in split-screen
While it’s fun to jump into a little collaboration, you don’t want to ignore potential embarrassment. The biggest and most obvious problem is that it halves your screen size. This makes teamwork and communication paramount because you rely more on your teammates to let you know what they are looking for.
The split-screen selection shows the feed only at a horizontal incline and you cannot reverse it vertically. This is not the worst thing in the world, but if you want your contribution to be vertical, it may take some adjustments. As far as you know about these flaws, split-screen mode is a lot of fun and a great way to introduce your friends to the nostalgia of Fortnite.
