How to play Fortnite split screen

The Fortnite split screen mode is back up and running, after a period of downtime while a matchmaking issue was being resolved. This means the popular couch co-op set up for the battle royale is available once again, so you can join a friend for some local multiplayer action while only having to use one console, as sharing is caring! For the lowdown on how to set up split screen in Fortnite, or what to look for if it's not in its usual place on the lobby screen, I've got all of the details here.

How to play Fortnite split screen

When this feature is available in Fortnite, players can activate split screen mode on compatible consoles easily enough, with an option at the bottom-right hand corner of the screen for another player to log in on a different account and join your lobby from the same device using a second controller. You can then begin matchmaking as usual, to jump into various game modes together – although some experiences such as Lego Fortnite Splitscreen are not supported.

Is Fortnite split screen unavailable?

Fortnite split screen mode was previously disabled on April 9 due to an unspecified error, however this was resolved and it was reactivated on April 12. Before that, it was last taken down in November 2023, when it took five days to fix the issue and reinstate it. Epic have historically been pretty good with updates, and as this is a major feature that causes a lot of outcry whenever it is removed it usually isn't gone for long. So, if you find that you can't access it for whatever reason then there's a good chance that it's a high priority for fixing, meaning it won't remain inaccessible for long.

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