https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAyqzqw9Gi8
So Splitscreen does work on pc.
The mod tools exist, The feature is there and works in Halo 3 and ODST.
I’ve uploaded footage I took earlier today playing with my kid.
I want answers as to why this feature is being completely ignored when it is absolutely possible to make it happen.
Why add it to the backlog and then never speak of it again?
I’ve been waiting 3 years for answers and i’m tired of the silence.
UPDATE
For those looking to start on this I highly recommend after installing, extracting your files and copying your fmod folders over to put a txt file in each tools root folder called init.txt
This file will force the game to start with whatever commands you set which we can utilize to improve the play experience and hide most of the debug features of these specific builds of the games.
These are the command lines I’m using for Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST, and Halo Reach
Copy and paste if you want. All of these commands are included in the file in /bin/debug_menu_init.txt
Each game has a different command list so make sure to check the debug_menu_init file for each game.
Halo 3 and Halo 3 ODST. H3EK, H3ODSTEK
error_geometry_hide_all
render_thread_enable 1
display_framerate 1
havok_play_impact_effects
collision_debug 0
physics_debug 0
events_suppress_console_display 1
Halo Reach HREK (this list is experimental and shifting consistently. just use it as a starting basis)
render_thread_enable 1
display_framerate 1
simulation_profiler_enable
error_geometry_hide_all
terminal_render 0
console_status_string_render 0
events_suppress_console_display 1
events_enabled off
ai_hide_actor_errors on
net_config_maximum_multiplayer_split_screen_override
game_coop_players 2
If anyone has any more information to help make these builds run smoother please drop a comment and let’s get these builds running as smooth as we can!
Happy couch play everyone!
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Console folks have been waiting 8 years for some fixes. The answer to why its taking so long is because the development of the mod tools themselves is taking priority.
Out of curiosity with the mod tools are you able to change the aspect ratio of split screen for Halo 3? Instead of each screen as 8:3 could it be upped to 32:9?
Remember when we thought they were developing the CGB only for them to announce they had squandered that time and at that point started outsourcing it?
No clue why 343i doesn’t implement splitscreen in MCC on PC. Seeing as 343i originally promised all future Halo games would have splitscreen after the backlash with Halo 5 and 343i should know by now that splitscreen is a core element of what makes Halo popular. Which makes me wonder why Halo Infinite and MCC (PC) splitscreen have zero splitscreen for campaign. I really hope the new 343i management looks at this again and try to do the right thing.
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My brother, they STILL havent fixed the campaign netcode. (It has the same desync/stalling/lag issues that Firefight used to)
If you want my take, I think they just dont want people playing it long term.
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for those unaware this just about splitscreen on the mod tools, not on the mcc.
the mod tools tag test for halo 3, odst and reach are basically running the console versions on pc, hence why they have splitscreen.
halo and halo 2 mod tools are based on the inferior pc ports so do not have splitscreen. i expect halo 4 will have splitscreen too. just a shame halo 1 and 2 mod tools are using the pc port code and not the original xbox code / menus.
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You are correct on that sir. Interesting thing about halo ce on PC is back in the day there was a splitscteen mod that ran in engine, no dual instances. I tried tracking it down as i had hoped to look through what mod files their were but the mod is lost to time and nothing but dead links. All of the splitscteen tags are in the hceek. It’s just a matter of making it accessible from menu hence why I wanted to see what modification and trickery went into that particular mod. The amount of arguments against it saying it’s not possible at all to have split screen on pc is a large part of the reason I decided to post this because it completely voids that argument. It should be as simple as turning a controller on and a temp profile populating in.
i had a look back at some posts on discord and someone said native splitscreen does infact work on halo anniversary on the pc mcc but didn’t elaborate how to get it working but they also said it didn’t work on halo 2 though 
even though it’s cool it works on halo 3, odst and now reach, there is still the issue of slow loading times on the old green screen between maps which is annoying, even on an ssd it’s slow.
plus broken menus on each game. only odst seems to have fully working menus. reach are messed up on pause screen, halo 1 has no pause screen. can’t call menu on halo 3 at all once ingame.
i guess because of all the debug stuff…if only there was a way to speed it up. i already disabled all the debug text on each mod tool tag tester.
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I think that most of the games split screen works in MCC, it’s just that Halo 1 and Halo 2 debug options don’t give us as much options as Halo 3 and Halo reach do. I can get to the coop menu un Halo 2 but Halo 1 UI menu doesn’t give an option for coop. That was probably done via commands and since we don’t have access to the console… In Halo 2 the issue is that it doesn’t detect any input from Joypad or controllers so it gives me a prompt with no players available. Reach and 3 are the ones working as far as I’ve seen. Maybe 3 ODST. They should just enable it in MCC and let the community use it as it sees fit
I desperately need PC splitscreen.
Ideally with proper wide-screen and the ability to pick horizontal or vertical split.
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We need the devs to do that. Like, playing with the dev tools is cool and all. But since having an HDD loading that many tags to load a mission takes forever. But it’s cool getting to actually play split screen in pc that is native in some sort of fashion. I just wished one of the main halo YouTubers nowadays at least covered it once. Other than the inf/tech side of it from Generalkid
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ODST works beautifully once you have your init.txt set up.
3 and ODST play flawlessly and all menus work for split screen play. Turn a controller on and a temporary profile joins in as player 2 and you can browse the menus as you did in the days of the 360.
Reach there is issues with the menu when trying to click in to either campaign or main menu with 2 controllers on. Something to do with the user profile for p2 tied to achievements or something is what’s causing the crash I have to dig more in to it. You can launch split screen campaign co-op with command “game_coop_players 2” followed up with “game_start levels\solo\m10\m10” to start you at the very beginning of the campaign.
For multiplayer I used the command “game_splitscreen 2” and then launch the maps the same way. I use the debug menu here and there but I prefer to do most of my work in command line. The fact it saves your most recent commands makes life nice and easy.
For those who are new in your install directorys goto /bin/debug_menu_init.txt
This contains most command line codes for use in that specific build of blam!.
I tried getting people to cover it. Haven’t heard a peep back. Only focus is Infinite now unfortunately.
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I know, i saw your video and commented. It’s a nice discovery but yep, every mainstream halo content creator focuses on everything but split screen or MCC other than basic mods
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