Previously, it was already known that Gears of War 4 would support split-screen co-op for its campaign, but no word had been given yet on if it would do so for multiplayer as well. Luckily, come October 11th, fans can expect to play Gears of War 4 in split-screen online if they so desire, and if it has any other modes – like, say, horde mode – those game modes will support split-screen as well.

Those playing in split-screen should be aware that Gears of War 4’s frame rate will take a hit, however. The campaign will still run at 30 fps regardless of it’s being played in split-screen, but the multiplayer will drop from 60 fps to 30 fps. So, while Gears of War 4 will still be a graphical showcase in split-screen, it will be slightly less impressive from a visual standpoint when playing split-screen multiplayer.

Of course, that is a trade-off that probably won’t bother many fans. After all, by Fergusson’s own admission, the Gears of War franchise has been built on co-op, and it has supported split-screen since the franchise debuted on the Xbox 360 in 2006. To get rid of split-screen now with the first game in the series on Xbox One could draw the ire of longtime Gears enthusiasts, and leave many disappointed.

In the meantime, there are still some unanswered questions in regards to Gears of War 4’s multiplayer and split-screen. Past Gears of War titles have allowed for those playing offline to play against bots, but it remains to be seen if Gears of War 4 will allow for similar functionality or not. Even if there are no bots in Gears of War 4, however, being able to play the game in split-screen online is still something to celebrate.

Fans will have a chance to play the Gears of War 4 multiplayer beta beginning April 18th, and will be able to test out the game’s split-screen functionality at that time. It’s nice to see The Coalition go above and beyond to make sure a fan-favorite feature doesn’t go by the wayside in the transition to Xbox One, and most Gears of War fans will probably appreciate the effort.

Gears of War 4 will be available October 11th, exclusively for Xbox One.

Source: IGN