Halo: Campaign Evolved will bring the sci-fi shooter to PlayStation 5 for the first time, but seemingly with some truly wild PS Plus requirements. According to a new post on Halo Waypoint, the remake will require both players to “have PlayStation Plus and be linked to a Microsoft account” even if they just want to play the game’s offline missions together.
The community Q&A, published last night on June 19 by Halo Studios’ senior community manager John Junyszek is somewhat oddly worded. It lays out the online requirements for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 separately, with the apparent different already raising alarm bells for anyone who wishes they could just enjoy the remake of a classic without jumping through lots of hoops:
- XBOX Series X|S: If you’re playing split-screen on an XBOX console, the second player will also need a unique Microsoft account. If you want to play online co-op, you will need an active XBOX Game Pass subscription.
- PlayStation 5®: If you’re playing split-screen on PlayStation 5®, both accounts will need to have PlayStation Plus and be linked to a Microsoft account. Having these active PlayStation Plus subscriptions will also provide access to online co-op play.
- Steam: If you’re playing via Steam, you will need to link to a Microsoft account.
Next Halo has forced DOUBLE ONLINE DRM even for couch co-op!
We used to just take our saves with us on a thumb drive, but they don't even allow that anymore. Well, guess we need to look at the positives. Our test won't take long.
(Screenshot from Halo Waypoint) pic.twitter.com/kxm2vSW1FQ
— Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1) June 20, 2026
The Xbox Series X/S requirements are straightforward enough. Both players for local split-screen need Microsoft accounts, but only one player needs Game Pass Core in order for the duo to play online. On PS5, however, it reads as though both players will need Microsoft accounts and individual PS Plus subscriptions in order to play split-screen coop online and offline.
“Next Halo has forced DOUBLE ONLINE DRM even for couch co-op,” complained the game preservation advocacy account Does It Play. “We used to just take our saves with us on a thumb drive, but they don’t even allow that anymore. Well, guess we need to look at the positives. Our test won’t take long.”
Linking your Microsoft account is one thing, and funnily enough, reminds me of the time that Sony was heavily criticized for requiring something similar on Steam for Helldivers 2, but requiring an active, paid PlayStation Plus subscription to play an offline, co-op campaign is a bizarre requirement. There’s no way to confirm if this requirement was dictated by Sony or Microsoft at this time. Still, whoever decided this is frankly out of their mind.
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