To play BlazBlue: Central Fiction locally on a PS5, launch the PS4 version, connect two compatible controllers, open V.S. from the game’s battle modes, and use the second controller when the game displays its player-two join prompt. Arc System Works documents V.S. as the offline mode for fighting the computer or another player. The exact English button used to join as player two is not confirmed in the available official documentation, so follow the prompt shown on your screen rather than relying on a guessed button.
What you need before starting
The setup is straightforward, but a few compatibility details determine whether both players can join.
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- A PS5 with BlazBlue: Central Fiction installed. PlayStation lists the title as a PS4 game that is playable on PS5. A system software update may be required, and some PS4 features can be unavailable on PS5.
- Two controllers that the PS5 and this supported PS4 game can recognize.
- A local display and enough space for both players to use their controllers.
You do not need to enter a network match to play on the same console. V.S. is the documented offline player-versus-player route; ranked matches, player matches and lobbies are listed separately as network modes.
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Controller choices for two local players
For a basic couch-versus setup, use whichever two compatible inputs you already own. Sony lists the DualSense and DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controllers as working with supported PS4 games on PS5. Officially licensed arcade sticks are another supported category, although a stick is optional rather than a requirement.
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| Controller option | Use with the PS4 game on PS5 | When it makes sense | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| DualSense wireless controller | Listed by PlayStation for supported PS4 games on PS5 | You want to use the controller supplied with the console or another PS5 pad | Support applies to supported PS4 games; it does not mean every third-party device is compatible |
| DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller | Listed by PlayStation for supported PS4 games on PS5 | You already have a PS4 controller or prefer its layout | Pair or connect it with the PS5 before trying to join in the game |
| Officially licensed arcade stick | Supported as a category for supported PS4 games on PS5 | You prefer an arcade control panel for fighting games | Check the manufacturer’s PS5/PS4-game compatibility information for the specific model |
Sony cautions that not every third-party controller works with every supported PS4 game on PS5. If an unlicensed pad, adapter or stick is not detected, test with a DualSense or DUALSHOCK 4 before troubleshooting the game itself.
Step-by-step: start a local two-player match
1. Launch the installed game
Start BlazBlue: Central Fiction from the PS5 home screen or game library. Confirm that you are launching the PS4 edition shown by the PlayStation listing. The game is not a native PS5 release in the compatibility information used here; it is a PS4 title running on PS5.
If the console requests a system software update, complete the update before diagnosing controller or mode problems. PlayStation notes that compatibility can include feature differences, so a PS5 may not reproduce every PS4 feature exactly.
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2. Make both controllers available before entering battle
Turn on or connect the first controller, then make the second controller available to the same PS5 before selecting a match. A controller that is powered on only after the fight has already begun may not be offered the game’s player-two join prompt.
Use two recognized controllers in any combination supported for the PS4 game, such as two DualSense controllers, two DUALSHOCK 4 controllers, or one of each. An officially licensed arcade stick can replace one of the pads if the particular device is compatible.
3. Open the V.S. mode
From the game’s mode list, choose V.S. Arc System Works describes V.S. as an offline mode for fighting either the computer or another player. This is the mode intended for two people sharing the console.
Do not choose a ranked match, player match or lobby when your opponents are sitting beside you. Those entries belong to the game’s network category and are not the documented route for a same-console match.
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4. Join as player two
When V.S. presents its join prompt, operate the second controller and follow the instruction displayed by the game. The official English material consulted does not establish the exact button for this prompt, so do not assume that a particular face button is universally correct. If the prompt names a button, press that button on the second controller; if it shows a controller icon or another instruction, use the indicated input.
5. Continue through character selection
After the second controller is accepted, proceed through the character-selection screens with the on-screen instructions. Both players should verify that their selections are being controlled by different inputs before confirming the match. If only one cursor moves, return to the join step instead of starting the fight and trying to add the second player afterward.
How to tell whether you chose the right mode
The mode name is the quickest diagnostic. V.S. appears under the game’s battle modes and is described as offline play against the computer or another player. Network entries are grouped separately and are intended for online sessions.
| What you want to do | Documented route | Connection type |
|---|---|---|
| Fight a friend on the same PS5 | V.S. | Offline, same-console play |
| Fight the computer | V.S. | Offline |
| Use ranked, player-match or lobby features | The corresponding network mode | Online; not required for couch multiplayer |
If you are looking at a lobby, ranked-match or player-match menu, back out and select V.S. instead. Changing network settings will not make a second local controller join a mode that is designed for online play.
DualSense and DUALSHOCK 4: practical differences for this setup
Using two DualSense controllers
This is the simplest arrangement when both players are using current PS5 pads. PlayStation lists DualSense support for supported PS4 games on PS5, and the game itself sees the controllers as two separate inputs once they are available to the console.
Using two DUALSHOCK 4 controllers
Two DUALSHOCK 4 controllers are also listed as compatible with supported PS4 games on PS5. This can be useful when you already own PS4 pads or when both players prefer their familiar feel.
Mixing one DualSense and one DUALSHOCK 4
A mixed pair is a practical option because both controller families are listed for supported PS4 games on PS5. The relevant requirement is that each device is recognized by the console and available when V.S. asks for player two.
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Using an arcade stick
An officially licensed arcade stick can be used as one of the two inputs when its maker identifies it as compatible with PS5 or supported PS4 games on PS5. It is not necessary for local play. If the stick is not recognized, connect a known-compatible pad and confirm that the game can start a two-player match before investigating the stick’s own compatibility or connection mode.
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The second controller is not recognized by the PS5
- Exit or pause the game and check whether the PS5 responds to the second controller at the system level.
- Reconnect or pair the controller, then return to the game.
- If it is a third-party device, check the maker’s compatibility information. Sony does not guarantee every third-party controller.
- Test with a DualSense or DUALSHOCK 4, both of which PlayStation lists for supported PS4 games on PS5.
These checks separate a console/controller problem from a game-mode problem. If the PS5 itself cannot see the device, changing the V.S. selection will not fix it.
The second controller works in the PS5 menu but not in V.S.
- Return to the mode list and re-enter V.S.
- Have the second controller ready before the match or character-selection screen appears.
- Wait for the game’s player-two join prompt and follow the exact instruction shown there.
- Confirm that the second player’s cursor or selection indicator moves before accepting characters.
The official pages do not verify a single English join button for every version or screen. Treat the on-screen prompt as authoritative rather than trying a button from a video or a different platform guide.
The game starts a one-player fight
You may have confirmed V.S. as a computer match without joining the second player. Back out to V.S., activate the second controller at the join prompt, and verify two selection indicators before confirming the fight.
You are in an online menu
Ranked, player-match and lobby entries are network modes. They are not substitutes for the local V.S. mode. Return to the battle-mode list and select V.S. for a match on the same console.
An arcade stick does not work
First confirm whether the stick is officially licensed and whether its manufacturer lists compatibility with PS5 or supported PS4 games. If its status is unclear, use a DualSense or DUALSHOCK 4 to establish a working two-player setup. Once the game accepts the second pad, the remaining issue is specific to the stick, its connection mode or its compatibility rather than to local multiplayer itself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.PS5 compatibility caveats
PlayStation’s store listing identifies BlazBlue: Central Fiction as a PS4 game playable on PS5, but the listing also warns that a system software update may be required and that some PS4 features may be absent. This qualification matters when a menu, peripheral or behavior differs from an older PS4 tutorial.
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Use the current game build installed on your console, keep the PS5 software up to date when prompted, and judge the setup by the options actually displayed. The documented requirement for local play remains two compatible inputs and the offline V.S. mode; an absent or altered PS4 feature should not be “fixed” by entering a network mode.
Does local V.S. require PlayStation Plus?
V.S. is documented as an offline mode, so PlayStation Plus is not part of the local two-controller procedure. A subscription may matter to online features, but it is not needed to select an offline match on the same PS5. If the game is asking for network matchmaking, you are no longer following the local V.S. path.
A quick pre-match checklist
- The PS5 has the PS4 version of BlazBlue: Central Fiction installed and launches it successfully.
- Any required PS5 system update has been installed.
- Two controllers are recognized before entering the match.
- Each controller is a supported type: DualSense, DUALSHOCK 4, or a compatible officially licensed arcade stick.
- The selected mode is V.S., not ranked, player match or lobby.
- The second controller has joined at the game’s prompt.
- Two cursors, indicators or selection inputs are visible before character confirmation.
Bottom line for a two-player setup
Launch the PS4 game on PS5, prepare two compatible controllers, choose V.S., and use the second controller at the join prompt. V.S. is the game’s documented offline mode for another player on the same console. Because the official English documentation does not confirm a particular player-two button, follow the prompt shown in your copy of the game. If joining fails, first verify controller recognition and then verify that you are in V.S. rather than one of the separate network modes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a PS5 DualSense with the PS4 version of BlazBlue: Central Fiction?
Yes. PlayStation lists DualSense controllers as working with supported PS4 games on PS5, and this title is listed as a PS4 game playable on PS5.
Can one player use a DualSense while the other uses a DUALSHOCK 4?
Yes. Both controller families are listed for supported PS4 games on PS5, so a mixed pair is a practical local setup when each controller is recognized by the console.
Do I need an arcade stick for local matches?
No. An arcade stick is optional. Two compatible pads are sufficient; officially licensed sticks are an additional supported peripheral category.
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The official English material does not verify one exact button. Wait for the game’s player-two prompt and press the input it displays on the second controller.
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