While online multiplayer is all the rage these days, sometimes you want your friend next to you on the couch and in the game with you. That's where split-screen multiplayer comes in, allowing you and a friend to play together on the same console and monitor, rather than requiring two separate setups. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 continues the series' trend of featuring split-screen multiplayer functionality, but as is always the case, there are some limitations to it, and some setup that you need to be aware of. Here's how to play split-screen multiplayer in Black Ops 7.

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How to Play Split-Screen Multiplayer in Black Ops 7

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Split-screen multiplayer will obviously require a few different things. First, make sure that you've got two controllers and that each of you has an Activision account you can sign in to. Once this is done, you then need to follow the steps below:

  1. Start Black Ops 7 on your console.
  2. Select either the Zombies or Multiplayer mode options from the main menu. This should bring you into the lobby screen as long as there are no patches that need to be applied before you can begin playing.
  3. Once this is done, press the A button on the second Xbox controller, or X on the PlayStation controller to begin the sign-in process for your friend. They will then need to log in to their Activision account.
  4. After the Activision account has been logged into, you should now see two different player names showing in the in-game party. You're now ready to begin setting your matchmaking options and searching for a game.

It's worth noting that there are some limitations to split-screen multiplayer in Black Ops 7. First, you can't play the campaign in split-screen multiplayer. While this latest entry in the series marks the first time that Call of Duty has had a co-op campaign since Black Ops 3, it can only be played in online multiplayer mode.

Second, you can only play split-screen multiplayer in Black Ops 7 if you're playing on a current-gen console. That means that Xbox One and PS4 owners can't make use of this functionality. If you have one of these consoles and want to play with a friend, you'll each need to play on your own console online.

Finally, anyone playing on PC won't be able to play in split-screen either. After reaching either the Multiplayer or Zombies menus, you won't have an option to add a second player to the game on your system. Sucks if you wanted some help taking down those Zursa Bears in Zombies!

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
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Action
FPS
Sci-Fi
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 66 /100 Critics Rec: 34%
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Released
November 14, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
Developer(s)
Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher(s)
Activision
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Action, FPS, Sci-Fi