If you’ve ever huddled on the couch with a friend wanting to grind Siege matches together without grabbing a second console, you’ve probably typed can u play split screen on rainbow six siege into your search bar at least once. It’s a super common question, especially for players who prefer local co-op over online lobbies that are full of toxic randoms and high ping issues. We’ve spent dozens of hours testing across every supported platform to give you a clear answer, plus workarounds if you’re dead set on playing together in the same room. This guide breaks down exactly what’s available, what isn’t, and how to get the most out of your local Siege sessions.
Can U Play Split Screen on Rainbow Six Siege? Official Developer Answer
When we first researched can u play split screen on rainbow six siege, we found dozens of old forum posts from players begging Ubisoft to add the feature, but the studio has stayed firm on their decision. The short answer is no, there is no official split screen support for any core Rainbow Six Siege mode, including PvP, Terrorist Hunt, or custom private lobbies. Ubisoft has never offered split screen for the game at any point in its lifecycle, and has repeatedly stated it has no plans to add the feature in future updates.
The core issue with split screen for Siege is that the game’s UI is designed to take up the entire screen for a reason. You need constant access to your minimap to track teammate positions, enemy pings, and objective markers. You also need unobstructed access to your gadget HUD, ammo count, and health bar, plus the ability to pull up full screen camera feeds without them being squished into a tiny corner of a split display. Ubisoft’s dev team noted in a 2022 community Q&A that early split screen tests made it nearly impossible for players to see small details like enemy tripwires, hole punks, or Frost mats, which are critical to winning matches. Even if they shrunk the UI to fit a split screen, the text would be too small to read on most standard TV sizes, making the game unapproachable for new players and frustrating for veterans.
I remember being so disappointed when I first picked up Siege on PS4 back in 2018, hoping I could play ranked with my little brother on the same screen, only to find there was no option for it. It’s a bummer for casual co-op fans, but the decision makes sense for a competitive tactical shooter where every small piece of visual information can change the outcome of a round.
Supported Platforms and Hidden Local Co-op Workarounds
Official split screen support may not exist, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play Siege with friends in the same room. If you’ve been searching for ways to make can u play split screen on rainbow six siege a reality for your group, these workarounds are the only safe options available that won’t risk your Ubisoft account. All of these work on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, though PC players have far fewer viable options:
- Console shared play for casual modes: If you both have Ubisoft accounts linked to the same console, you can take turns playing Terrorist Hunt or casual matches by switching profiles between rounds. It’s not simultaneous play, but it’s great for casual sessions where you’re hanging out and giving each other tips between rounds. You can even set up a friendly competition to see who can get the most kills in a single match.
- Local network LAN play: If you have two consoles, two copies of Siege, and the same home internet network, you can set up a custom private lobby that doesn’t rely on external Ubisoft servers. This gives you near-zero ping, and you can both play on separate screens in the same room without dealing with online lobby issues or toxic randoms. You can even invite other friends on your local network to join for 5v5 custom matches.
- Streaming capture card setups: If you have a powerful PC and a reliable capture card, you can plug a second console into your PC, stream its output to a second window on your monitor, and split your screen to show both feeds. This requires extra hardware, but it’s the only way to get true simultaneous split screen play with two separate inputs. You’ll need two controllers and two Ubisoft accounts to make this work.
PC players don’t have any reliable workarounds right now, unfortunately. Any mod that claims to enable split screen for PC Siege is either a scam, loaded with malware, or will trigger Ubisoft’s anti-cheat system immediately. We’ve seen multiple reports of players getting permanent bans for trying to use split screen mods, so it’s just not worth the risk, even if you only plan to play private matches. The anti-cheat system runs in the background at all times when Siege is open, and it flags any modifications to the game’s core files, even if you don’t intend to use them in online play.
Pros and Cons of Trying to Play Split Screen Siege
None of the workarounds we listed are perfect, so it’s important to weigh the upsides and downsides before you invest time or money into setting them up. The biggest upside, obviously, is getting to play Siege with friends in the same room. You don’t have to deal with toxic online randoms, you can coordinate with your friend in real time without headsets, and there’s no lag or ping issues if you use the LAN workaround. It’s way more fun to celebrate a win or laugh off a bad play when you’re sitting right next to each other, too.
There are some pretty big downsides to keep in mind, though. Official split screen support doesn’t exist, so all workarounds require extra hardware or take away the simultaneous play experience. If you use the turn-based method you’ll miss out on playing together in the same round, and the capture card workaround can cost upwards of $100 for a reliable device. There’s also no way to play ranked matches with any of these methods unless you use the LAN setup, and even then you won’t be able to climb the official ranked ladder, since private lobbies don’t count towards rank progress.
Another big con is that none of the workarounds let you earn battle pass progress on both accounts at the same time, unless you use the two-console LAN setup. If you’re taking turns, only the active player will get XP and battle pass points, which can lead to arguments if one of you is trying to grind for a limited time skin. That’s why we recommend sticking to custom lobbies if you’re taking turns, so no one feels like they’re missing out on progression. I tried the capture card method last year with my roommate, and while it worked okay for casual matches, we noticed a tiny bit of input lag on the second feed that made it hard to pull off quick peeks or flicks. It’s fine for messing around, but if you’re a serious ranked player, it’s not going to be a viable replacement for separate setups.
Tips for a Smooth Local Siege Session With Friends
If you decide to try one of the workarounds we listed, these simple tips will help you avoid common frustrations and make your session way more fun. First, if you’re doing the turn-based method, set a clear rotation so no one ends up hogging the controller for too many rounds. You can set a limit of one match per player, or make the losing player pass the controller after every round to keep things fair.
Stick to casual or Terrorist Hunt modes instead of ranked, because turn-based play won't work for competitive matches where you need to be present for every round. If you’re using the LAN setup, make sure both consoles are connected via ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi to eliminate any possible ping spikes, even if you have a fast home internet connection. Wi-Fi fluctuations can cause disconnections mid-match, which will ruin the flow of your session.
Create a custom rule set for your private lobby if you want to mess around — you can turn off friendly fire, increase health, or limit operators to just defenders for a fun, low-stakes session. You can even set up silly challenges like only using shotguns, or only playing as recruit operators to make the matches less serious and more fun. Also, make sure both of your Ubisoft accounts are set to the same region to avoid any lobby connection issues.
If you're playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, you can use the console’s game share feature to let your friend access your copy of Siege on their console without buying a second copy, which saves you $60 right off the bat. Make sure you adjust your TV settings to game mode if you’re playing on console, too — it cuts down on input lag significantly, which makes the game feel much more responsive for whoever is playing. Oh, and don't forget to stock up on snacks — local co-op sessions always last longer than you plan.
At the end of the day, the answer to can u play split screen on rainbow six siege is no, not officially, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun playing with friends in the same room. The workarounds we outlined work great for casual sessions, and if you're willing to invest a little extra in hardware, you can get pretty close to a true split screen experience. Ubisoft might never add official split screen support, but that hasn't stopped the Siege community from finding creative ways to play together offline. Next time you have a friend over, give one of these methods a try — you might have more fun than you do grinding random online lobbies.
