Yes. Resident Evil 5 supports solo play and co-op, but the local setup depends on the edition. The PS3 and Xbox 360 manuals explain split-screen play with a second controller; Capcom added local split-screen co-op to the Steam edition in a February 2023 update. Current Xbox and Nintendo listings also confirm co-op, though they do not provide the same level of setup detail.
Which Resident Evil 5 editions support co-op?
Features and setup are not identical across versions. Check your platform and edition before relying on instructions for another release.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Resident Evil Requiem Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Resident Evil 2 - PlayStation 5 | $15.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Resident Evil Village Gold ED - PS5 | $24.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 3 - PlayStation 5 | $18.13 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Edition or platform | Local co-op | Online co-op | What the available official information establishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS3 | Yes; split-screen with a second controller | Documented through PlayStation Network in the manual | The manual gives a local joining procedure and online host/join guidance: Capcom manuals index. |
| Xbox 360 | Yes; split-screen with a second controller | Documented through Xbox Live; system link is also described | The manual gives local, online, and system-link instructions: Capcom manuals index. |
| Windows / Steam | Yes, local split-screen was added in Capcom’s February 27, 2023 update | Not stated in the cited update | Capcom’s update removed Games for Windows Live support and added local split-screen: Steam update announcement. The Steam listing identifies the Windows edition and controller support: Steam store page. |
| Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S | Yes; two-player local co-op is listed | Yes; two-player online co-op is listed | The Xbox product listing confirms both modes and platform compatibility. |
| Nintendo Switch | Local multiplayer is listed; exact method not stated | Co-op is listed; exact configuration not stated | The Nintendo UK listing confirms co-op and local multiplayer but does not explain the joining procedure. |
| PS4 | Not stated in the cited listing | Co-op is listed; exact setup not stated | The PlayStation US listing identifies single-player and co-op modes. |
How to start local split-screen on PS3 or Xbox 360
The PS3 and Xbox 360 manuals describe a second player joining during offline play. These steps apply to the legacy editions covered by those manuals, not automatically to later ports.
- Start an offline game and begin playing.
- Connect a second controller.
- Have player two press Start. The game pauses and returns to the Item Management screen.
- Return to gameplay. The game uses split-screen, and player two controls the partner character.
The PS3 manual says, “A second player can join in at any time during offline play.” Consult the official manuals index for the instructions matching your legacy edition.
#1 Best Overall
- Amazon Exclusive - 2 sided poster included in every game!
- Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who is introverted and easily scared, representing a new type of character for the Resident Evil series. Grace will experience horror from the same perspective as the player as she learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story.
- For the first time ever in Resident Evil history, players will be able to freely switch between both first- and third-person perspectives throughout the game.
- An Anniversary to Remember: With March 2026 marking the Resident Evil series’ 30-year anniversary, Resident Evil Requiem marks its own milestone in the franchise.
- Pre-orders for Resident Evil Requiem are now open, with the bonus of Grace’s costume: Apocalypse. Please note that the picture weapon does not come with the costume, but it can be obtained in-game.
What changed for the Steam edition?
Capcom’s February 27, 2023 Steam update removed Games for Windows Live support and added local split-screen co-op. An older Capcom FAQ says the Steam edition did not support offline split-screen, but that statement predates the update and does not describe the updated Steam version: Capcom’s Steam edition FAQ.
The update announcement confirms the feature, but the cited official material does not provide a complete current two-player setup sequence. Use the Steam edition’s current in-game options and controller configuration rather than applying legacy console menu instructions as if they were verified for Windows.
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- 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.
How does online co-op work?
Online co-op is documented for the PS3 and Xbox 360 manuals, and the current Xbox listing specifies online co-op for two players. The manuals describe hosting or joining through their respective services; the Xbox 360 manual also describes system link. Those are edition-specific legacy directions, not confirmation that every old service, menu, or network requirement remains available today.
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For Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, the current product listing says online multiplayer on console requires a qualifying Xbox Game Pass subscription. Subscription names and requirements can change, so check the current Xbox listing and your account’s service details before arranging a session. The sources cited here do not establish current invitation steps for every platform.
Rank #3
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
Can you play Resident Evil 5 solo?
Yes. The PlayStation 4 product page explicitly lists single-player mode, so co-op is not required to play the game. The official listing does not describe partner-AI settings or detailed solo resource-management behavior, so those specifics should not be assumed from the mode label alone: PlayStation’s Resident Evil 5 page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- CLASSIC RESIDENT EVIL GAMEPLAY -- Overcome chilling encounters in a relentless fight for survival that ratchets up the intensity through nail-biting exploration and gripping puzzle-solving.
- EXPLORE RACCOON CITY FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE -- Get even closer to the action with an over-the-shoulder camera and updated control scheme, drawing you into every bloodcurdling encounter.
- SURVIVE TOGETHER IN THE MULTIPLAYER MODE -- Bring up to four friends into the carnage with Resident Evil Resistance, a multiplayer survival horror experience included in the Resident Evil 3 package. Available as a PlayStation 4 title compatible on all PlayStation 5 devices. Includes code necessary for redemption, requires additional download not on disc.
- 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.
Rank #4
- A New Perspective – See the eighth core entry in the Resident Evil series from a new vantage point in “Third Person Mode.” In addition to the intense first-person view players enjoyed in the initial release of Resident Evil Village, they can now watch Ethan in action and experience his journey from a new angle in Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion.
- The Story Continues – “Shadows of Rose” resumes the Winters family saga 16 years after the events of Resident Evil Village. The expansion’s new tale follows Rose Winters, the daughter of main protagonist Ethan, as she struggles with her terrifying powers. Explore the warped and twisted world inside the consciousness of the Megamycete in search of a cure.
- The Mercenaries Are Back and Bigger Than Ever – The beloved battle-the-clock mode, “The Mercenaries,” returns with new features. On top of the original content, “The Mercenaries Additional Orders” introduces fan favorites as new playable characters Lady Dimitrescu, Chris Redfield, and Lord Karl Heisenberg, each with their own unique abilities. This added content for Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion also includes new levels and other improvements.
- Bonus Game – Resident Evil Village will provide access to a free multiplayer experience titled Resident Evil Re:Verse, which releases on Oct. 28, 2022 alongside the launch of Resident Evil Village Gold Edition and the Winters’ Expansion. An all-star cast of iconic characters face off in four to six-player deathmatch battles in classic locations.
- Familiar Faces and Fresh Foes – Resident Evil series hero Chris Redfield returns under a shroud of seemingly sinister motives. Ethan will also encounter a host of new adversaries inhabiting the enigmatic village, all with their own distinctive attacks.
What to check before inviting a second player
- Confirm the exact platform and edition; local-play features differ across releases.
- For PS3 or Xbox 360 split-screen, use the second-controller and Start-button procedure in the matching manual.
- For Steam, make sure the game is updated to include Capcom’s 2023 local split-screen change.
- For Switch, the official listing confirms local multiplayer but not the precise method or controller arrangement.
- For online play, verify the platform’s current network service, subscription, and invite process.
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.
