PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo play local couch co-op in Resident Evil 2 (2019), use the Steam PC version, install the matching REFramework build, merge the mod’s reframework folder into the game directory, then load a save and press Start + Back on controller 2. Open the mod menu with L3 + R3 or F2 and choose Shared Screen, Fixed Camera, Split Screen, AI Companion or HUNK-y Friend Classic.
The mod is updated frequently. Check the current Local Couch Co-op files page before downloading, and match REFramework to your installed ray-traced (RT) or non-ray-traced (Non-RT) game build.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What this mod supports
Local Couch Co-op, formerly called HUNK’y Friend, is a community modification for the Steam PC release of Resident Evil 2 (2019). It adds a second local player and several companion-style ways to play. The listing does not claim support for PlayStation, Xbox, cloud versions or other PC editions, so begin by confirming that your copy is the Steam PC game.
REFramework is required. The framework loads the mod into the game and supports both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12. For non-VR use, its documented installation consists of extracting only dinput8.dll into the folder containing re2.exe. The co-op download then contributes a reframework folder that must be merged into that same game directory.
#1 Best Overall
- TERRIFYING ZOMBIES WAITING AROUND EVERY CORNER -- Driven by insatiable hunger, these creatures act on instinct, gnashing their teeth, ripping at flesh, and devouring their victims. The new immersive camera lets you feel their fangs as they sink into your flesh.
- RACCOON CITY, REBUILT IN INTRICATE DETAIL -- The characters, environments, and story have all been rebuilt from the ground up to create a terrifying world that feels both nostalgic and new.
- NEW FOR PLAYSTATION5 – Upgraded features new to the PlayStation5 version of the game include a higher frame rate, 3D audio, added ray tracing, and engaging DualSense support for Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers.
Before you install
Confirm the game and edition
- Install Resident Evil 2 (2019) through Steam on Windows.
- Know whether you use the ray-traced (RT) or non-ray-traced (Non-RT) executable, because the mod files page gives different REFramework guidance for those builds.
- Close the game and any mod manager before copying files.
Prepare local controls
The mod page calls for two controllers, or a keyboard and mouse plus one controller. A two-controller setup is the clearest arrangement for two human players. Connect both devices before spawning Player 2, and make sure Steam or Windows is not assigning both controllers to the same player slot.
Check the live mod files page
At the time of the 13 October 2026 file listing, the main download was RE2 Coop HUNK V1.4.8, uploaded on 13 October 2026 and described as intended for both RT and Non-RT versions. An older Non-RT alpha and a separate V1.3.0 classic file were also listed. Use the current main file and its compatibility notes rather than relying on an old forum post or archived instruction.
Choose the correct REFramework build
The co-op files page directs RT users to REFramework nightly builds and Non-RT users to the stable v1.5.9.1 release. This distinction can change as the game and mod are updated, so treat the current file-page directions as authoritative at install time.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
| Your game build | REFramework direction listed for the mod | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Ray-traced (RT) | Use an REFramework nightly build. | Check the current co-op files page for the nightly build that matches your game version. |
| Non-ray-traced (Non-RT) | Use stable REFramework v1.5.9.1, according to the 13 October 2026 directions. | Recheck the page in case a newer compatible release replaces it. |
REFramework’s own installation notes say that non-VR users need only dinput8.dll from the framework archive. Do not copy unrelated VR files when following the non-VR setup.
Install REFramework
- Download the REFramework build that matches your RT or Non-RT installation and the current co-op instructions.
- Open your Steam library, right-click Resident Evil 2, choose Manage, then Browse local files. This opens the directory that contains the game executable.
- Locate
re2.exe. Extractdinput8.dlldirectly beside it, not into a newly created subfolder. - Leave the file named exactly
dinput8.dll. Do not rename it, place it in the Windows system directory or put it beside a shortcut instead of the game executable. - Start the game once and reach the title screen, then quit. This gives REFramework an opportunity to create its normal folders and confirms that the loader starts.
REFramework documents support for Resident Evil 2 and both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12. That framework support does not broaden the co-op mod’s stated requirement: the co-op listing specifically targets the Steam PC game.
Install Local Couch Co‑op
- Download the current main Local Couch Co-op file from the mod’s files listing. Prefer the file identified as the current release over an older alpha or classic archive unless you have a specific compatibility reason.
- Open the archive and locate its
reframeworkfolder. - Extract the archive into the same folder that contains
re2.exe. When Windows asks whether to merge the newreframeworkfolder with the existing one, allow the merge. - Keep the directory structure intact. The result should be a game-folder-level
reframeworkdirectory alongsidedinput8.dllandre2.exe, with the mod’s files inside it. - If you use a compatible mod manager, the author says it can install the archive directly. Check the manager’s deployment path afterward to ensure it points to the actual Resident Evil 2 game folder.
Do not extract the mod into the Steam library’s top-level folder, a separate “Mods” folder or a second nested folder such as Resident Evil 2reframeworkreframework. A misplaced folder prevents the loader from seeing the scripts.
Launch the mod and spawn Player 2
- Start the Steam game after both REFramework and the co-op files are installed.
- Load a save rather than testing only at the title screen. The mod’s join procedure is intended for active gameplay.
- Connect the input devices. On controller 2, press Start + Back together to spawn Player 2.
- Hold L3 + R3 (press both stick buttons) or press F2 to open the co-op menu.
- Select a play mode and adjust its available options. If you need to remove Player 2, use the same spawn/remove control shown by the menu before saving or changing levels.
If Player 2 does not appear, keep the save loaded, reconnect the second device, confirm that the game recognizes it as controller 2 and try the join shortcut again. A menu that opens with F2 confirms that REFramework is loading; if F2 does nothing, troubleshoot the framework and folder placement before changing controller bindings.
Choose a co-op play mode
Each mode changes the camera, screen layout or amount of computer assistance. The choice is a trade-off rather than a universal ranking.
| Mode | How it plays | Requirements and trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Screen | Both players use the game’s shared camera and screen. Player 2 can aim with the right stick; an edge arrow indicates when Player 2 moves off screen. | Uses one view instead of rendering two scenes. Choose it when both players want to stay in a common camera view. |
| Fixed Camera | Uses classic fixed camera angles and tank-style controls. | Requires the optional RE2R Classic mod. The right stick turns the character on the spot under this control style. |
| Split Screen | Each player receives a separate half of the display, camera, HUD, crosshair and flashlight. | Experimental. The game is drawn twice, and the author warns that frame rate will be lower. No fixed performance loss is promised. |
| AI Companion | The computer controls Player 2, with orders issued through a command wheel. | The mod says this mode needs only one controller, making it suitable when a second human player is not using the other slot. |
| HUNK-y Friend Classic | Retains the original control scheme: the D-pad selects guns, D-pad down swaps between knife and grenade, and shots go where Player 1 aims. | A companion-style option with its own fixed difficulty and a simpler control relationship to Player 1. |
Controls and Player 2’s abilities
Core shortcuts
- Spawn or remove Player 2: press Start + Back on controller 2.
- Open the co-op menu: hold L3 + R3 or press F2.
- Free Aim and Split Screen movement: left stick moves; right stick aims.
- Fixed Camera movement: use the classic tank-style scheme; the right stick turns on the spot.
What Player 2 can do
Player 2 can pick up items and perform listed actions such as opening doors and climbing ladders. The author notes that switches and most other interactions remain Player 1-only. If a puzzle object or environmental prompt does not respond to the second player, move Player 1 into position and perform that interaction with the primary character.
Recommended first-session procedure
For the first run, keep the setup simple. Start with a normal save in a safe room, connect both controllers, spawn Player 2 and open the menu with F2. Choose Shared Screen first if you want to verify joining, movement and aiming without the extra rendering cost of Split Screen. Walk through a door, pick up an item and test a ladder so you can see which actions respond to Player 2. Then try the other modes from the menu rather than changing files while the game is running.
If one person is playing alone, AI Companion is the straightforward test because the mod specifies that it needs only one controller. If two people want separate views, switch to Split Screen after confirming that the basic installation works. Fixed Camera should be treated as a separate setup because it depends on RE2R Classic, while HUNK-y Friend Classic changes the control relationship and difficulty rather than simply changing the camera.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →File layout and mod-manager checks
A quick visual check can prevent most installation mistakes. In the folder opened by Steam’s Browse local files command, you should see re2.exe, dinput8.dll and one reframework folder at the same level. The co-op archive’s contents belong inside that game-level folder; they should not be hidden inside an extra archive-named directory. If a mod manager is used, its deployment target must be the folder containing re2.exe, not the Steam library root.
Keep a backup of the existing reframework folder before merging if you use other REFramework mods. The co-op files can share that folder, but deleting the entire directory later may remove unrelated additions. When replacing a version, close the game first and check the new archive’s structure before approving any overwrite prompts.
Saving, loading and changing areas safely
Remove Player 2 before saving at a typewriter or loading into a new level. The mod author presents this as a precaution, not as a measured guarantee that every transition will fail. A safe routine is:
- Move both characters away from immediate danger.
- Press Start + Back on controller 2 to remove Player 2.
- Save at the typewriter or enter the next level.
- After the new area has loaded and the save is stable, reconnect or re-enable Player 2 with the join shortcut.
This extra step is especially sensible before a major scene transition, after changing modes or when recovering from an unexpected script or camera state.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesSplit-screen performance and display expectations
Split Screen is experimental because the game renders a separate camera, HUD, crosshair and flashlight for each half of the display. The author warns that drawing the game twice lowers frame rate. The available documentation does not provide a measured percentage, minimum PC specification or guaranteed frame-rate target, so do not treat any numerical performance claim as established.
Rank #3
- Based on the release of 1998 but completely rebuilt for a deeper narrative experience
- new over the shoulder camera mode and modernized control scheme
- a more modern take on the survival horror experience
- RE engine, Resident Evil 2 delivers breathtakingly photorealistic visuals in 4K
- zombies are brought to life with a horrifyingly realistic wet gore Effect.zombies react in real time taking instant visible damage, making every bullet count.engage in frenzied combat with enemies, explore dark menacing corridors & solve puzzles.a terrifying constant fight for survival.enjoy separately playable campaigns for both Leon and Claire
If Split Screen is choppy, switch to Shared Screen or AI Companion. Shared Screen keeps one rendered view, while AI Companion avoids the need for a second human-controlled viewport. Lowering unrelated graphics settings may help your system, but the mod documentation does not promise a particular setting or result.
Troubleshooting installation and joining
The game will not start after installing REFramework
- Remove the newly added
dinput8.dll, launch the unmodified game, then verify the game files through Steam. - Confirm that the DLL is beside
re2.exe, not in a parent directory or a nested folder. - Recheck whether you installed an RT nightly or Non-RT stable build that matches the game version listed by the co-op files page.
- Do not mix leftover files from several REFramework releases. Restore a clean game folder and install one matching build.
F2 does not open the menu
F2 is a useful diagnostic because it does not depend on the second controller. If it fails, REFramework may not be loading, dinput8.dll may be misplaced, or the game and framework versions may not match. Recheck the folder beside re2.exe, confirm the framework build and test after restarting the game.
The menu opens but Player 2 will not spawn
- Load an actual save before attempting to join.
- Connect the second controller before pressing Start + Back.
- Check that the device is assigned as controller 2 rather than duplicated as Player 1.
- Remove any existing Player 2 first, then press the shortcut once more.
Fixed Camera is unavailable or behaves like normal camera play
Fixed Camera requires the optional RE2R Classic mod. Install that companion only when you want its classic camera and tank-style controls, and make sure it is compatible with the same game and framework setup.
Recommended Free Tools
Characters or interactions appear stuck after a transition
Remove Player 2 before saving at a typewriter or loading a new level, then rejoin after the transition. This follows the author’s precaution and avoids carrying a second-player state through a scene change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Updating or removing the mod
Updating
- Read the current files page and identify the current main release and its RT or Non-RT instructions.
- Close the game.
- Replace the old mod files with the new archive, allowing the
reframeworkfolder to merge when prompted. - Replace REFramework only when the current instructions call for a different build.
- Launch, load a save and test F2 before inviting a second player.
Because the project changed rapidly around October 2026, an older installation guide may point to an obsolete alpha, classic file or framework release. The current file page is more reliable than copying an old version number from a forum post.
Removing
- Delete the co-op mod files from the game-level
reframeworkfolder, keeping backups of other REFramework mods you still use. - Remove
dinput8.dllif you want to remove REFramework entirely. - Use Steam’s file verification if the game does not return to its normal launch behavior.
If several REFramework mods share the same folder, identify the co-op files before deleting anything. Removing the entire folder can also remove unrelated mods.
Quick installation checklist
- Steam PC edition of Resident Evil 2 (2019) confirmed.
- RT or Non-RT build identified.
- Current Local Couch Co-op main file checked.
- Matching REFramework build downloaded.
dinput8.dllplaced besidere2.exe.- Co-op archive extracted so its
reframeworkfolder merges at game-folder level. - Save loaded and both input devices connected.
- Start + Back pressed on controller 2 to spawn Player 2.
- L3 + R3 or F2 used to open the menu.
- Mode selected with its camera, interaction and performance trade-offs understood.
- Player 2 removed before typewriter saves and level loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the couch co-op mod work on PlayStation or Xbox?
The listing targets the Steam PC version of Resident Evil 2 (2019) and does not claim support for console, cloud or other PC editions.
Do I need two controllers?
For two human players, use two controllers. The mod also supports a keyboard and mouse plus one controller. AI Companion is listed as needing only one controller.
Which REFramework download should RT players use?
The co-op files page directs ray-traced players to an REFramework nightly build. Check the current file-page note for the matching nightly version.
Which REFramework version is listed for Non-RT?
The 13 October 2026 directions listed stable REFramework v1.5.9.1 for Non-RT. Recheck the live files page because compatibility guidance can change.
Where does dinput8.dll go?
Place the non-VR REFramework file directly beside re2.exe in the Resident Evil 2 game folder.
How do I join as Player 2?
Load a save, connect the second controller, then press Start + Back on controller 2. Open the menu with L3 + R3 or F2.
Can Player 2 solve every puzzle?
No. Player 2 can pick up items and perform actions such as opening doors and climbing ladders, but the author says switches and most other interactions remain Player 1-only.
Why is Fixed Camera missing?
Fixed Camera requires the optional RE2R Classic mod, which supplies the classic camera and tank-style controls.
Which mode has the biggest performance cost?
Split Screen is experimental and renders the game twice, so the author warns of a lower frame rate. Shared Screen uses one view and is the simpler alternative.
Should I remove Player 2 before saving?
Yes. The author recommends removing Player 2 before saving at a typewriter or loading a new level, then joining again after the transition.
The Bottom Line
Install the matching REFramework build beside re2.exe, merge Local Couch Co-op’s reframework folder, load a save and join with Start + Back on controller 2. Use Shared Screen for a single view, Fixed Camera only with RE2R Classic, Split Screen with its experimental performance cost, or AI Companion when only one controller is available. Remove Player 2 before typewriter saves and level changes, and check the current files page whenever the mod or game updates.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
