Xenoverse 2 is not split-screen in the way most people mean: there is no couch co-op for the story, Parallel Quests or raids. What it does have is a local versus mode for two players on one screen, limited to one-on-one fights on a restricted set of stages, while all cooperative play, from Parallel Quests to six-player raids, happens online. Nintendo Switch adds a third option, local wireless play between separate consoles.
We checked this against the official PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop and Steam listings for the game, PCGamingWiki's multiplayer entry and the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Fandom wiki, in November 2026.
What Local Multiplayer Xenoverse 2 Actually Has
The only same-screen mode is local battle. PCGamingWiki describes it as limited local play for two players in Versus, a shared-screen Local Battle with a restricted stage selection. Both players are on one view of the arena, not two halves of the screen, and the camera has to keep both fighters in frame.
The official store pages say the same thing in their own words. The Xbox Store lists "Xbox local multiplayer (2-2)", meaning exactly two players on one console, next to "Online co-op (2-6)" and "Online multiplayer (2-6)". Nintendo's eShop page for the Special Edition lists 1 to 2 players on a single system and adds a note that it "Supports shared local multiplayer (1 on 1 matches only)."
So the short version for anyone hoping to play the campaign with a friend on the couch: you can fight each other locally, but you cannot team up locally. Every cooperative mode needs each player on their own system and online. That also means each player needs their own copy of the game and, on consoles, their own online subscription, which is worth knowing before you buy a second controller expecting a two-player campaign. The one-on-one mode is still a good way to settle arguments about who has the better custom character.
Platform by Platform
The local and online options differ a little by platform, mainly in how online play is paid for and whether different console generations can meet.
- PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4: the PlayStation Store listing says PS Plus is required for online play and supports up to six online players. The PS5 version has been native since 24 May 2024 and was a free upgrade for PS4 owners. Local play is the same one-on-one versus mode.
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One: two local players, two to six online, and the store lists Xbox Live Cross-Gen Multiplayer, so Xbox One and Series players can meet online.
- Nintendo Switch: one to two players on a single system for one-on-one matches, two to six players over local wireless, and two to six online. The eShop page also marks the game as supported on Switch 2, with behavior consistent with Switch.
- PC (Steam): Steam tags the game with Shared/Split Screen PvP, Online PvP and Online Co-op. In practice the shared-screen PvP tag refers to the same local one-on-one battle; PCGamingWiki lists online play for six players in Versus and Co-op.
Cross-platform play between PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC is a separate question. Our Xenoverse 2 cross-save and crossplay guide covers what carries between systems and what does not.
Setting Up a Local One-on-One Match
Local battles are best treated as a quick versus mode rather than a full multiplayer experience. The roster is the main draw, since both players can pick from every character you have unlocked or bought, including DLC fighters.
- Connect a second controller and make sure it is signed in or assigned to a second user if your console asks for one.
- Choose the local battle option rather than an online mode.
- Pick a fighter for each player from the characters available to you.
- Choose from the restricted list of stages offered for local play, then fight.
Two practical notes help. First, sit close enough to the screen that both players can read their own health and Ki bars, since there is only one shared view. Second, if one player is much more experienced, let the newer player pick a character with simple, strong attacks and a straightforward Ultimate, so the match stays fun for both sides.
Because the stage list is restricted and the camera is shared, local matches work best on open stages where fighters stay close together. If you want to see which characters are worth trying, our full roster list including DLC shows what each pack adds.
Playing Together Online Instead
Almost every cooperative mode in Xenoverse 2 is online and scales to more players than local play ever could.
- Parallel Quests: you can bring up to two allies into a quest, and when one player in the group earns a skill, the others receive it too unless they already have it.
- Expert Missions: up to six players fight a superboss together. Bosses have less health when you play them offline, to make up for the lack of human partners.
- Raid Quests: timed events where five or six players fight one boss in five-minute rounds; our raid rewards guide lists what each raid pays.
- Crystal Raid Battles: a player-versus-player mode where one player is the boss and up to five others fight them.
- Online battles: versus matches against other players from around the world, which the Steam store description highlights alongside raids.
Some of these modes also work alone. Expert Missions can be played offline, and the Fandom wiki notes that the bosses have less health when you do, to compensate for the missing human partners. Parallel Quests are fully playable offline with AI allies. Raids and Crystal Raid Battles are the exceptions: both depend on other players and on the Xenoverse server, so there is no offline version of either.
Online play needs the platform subscription on consoles, and on PlayStation the store page is explicit about PS Plus. On Switch, Nintendo lists online play under Nintendo Switch Online features.
Why There Is No Couch Co-op
Xenoverse 2 is built around Conton City, a shared online hub where you meet other players, talk to mentors and start quests. Wikipedia notes that the game's multiplayer servers hold up to 3,000 players at once. A design centered on one player walking around a city, choosing quests and joining lobbies does not map neatly onto two players sharing one screen, which is likely why Dimps limited local play to a self-contained versus mode.
The Switch version is the closest thing to local co-op, because its local wireless mode lets two to six nearby consoles play together without the internet. Each player still needs their own Switch and their own copy of the game. On PC, community-made mods claim to add split-screen, but they are unofficial, outside Bandai Namco's support, and we do not cover setting them up. Anything that modifies game files can also cause problems online.
Letting a Friend Try It First: Xenoverse 2 Lite
If a friend is not sure they want the full game, the PlayStation Store still lists DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 Lite for both PS4 and PS5 as a separate download. It is a cut-down version rather than the complete game, but the Fandom wiki's raid page notes that Lite Raids, the ones held in the Recreational Plaza behind mentor Hercule, are designed to be accessible to Lite players, and that the Multiplayer Mode NPC offers them a Raid Quest option too.
That makes Lite a reasonable way to test whether a friend enjoys the online side before they buy. Keep expectations in check, though: Lite is not the complete game, so anything you do together is limited to the modes it opens up, and your friend should read its store page to see exactly what it includes before planning a session around it.
Which Version Is Best for Playing With Friends?
If local play with a friend in the same room matters most, the Switch version is the most flexible, as long as both of you have a console. For online groups, pick the platform your friends already use: none of the official store listings mention crossplay between PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC, and Bandai Namco has not announced any. Within Xbox, the cross-generation support means an Xbox One owner and a Series X|S owner can still play together.
Edition choice matters less than platform, since every edition shares the same multiplayer modes, but DLC does matter for co-op: players need the right pack to join some content, such as DLC Parallel Quests. Our Special vs Deluxe edition comparison explains which packs come with each edition, so you and your friends can match up before buying.
Want a Head Start Before Your Friends Join?
When friends pick up the game together, one player is often far ahead and the rest spend weeks catching up. For PlayStation players, the store's Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 hub lists a modded save for PS4 and PS5 with all eight CaCs at Level 199, the full History Mode with every DLC, max Zeni, infinite items and all Super Souls. It requires your own copy of the game and is not offered on PC, Xbox or Switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 2 players play Xenoverse 2 on the same console?
Yes, but only in local one-on-one battles on a shared screen. Story, quests and raids are single player or online.
Does Xenoverse 2 have local co-op?
No same-screen co-op. Switch owners can play together over local wireless with two to six consoles.
How many players can play Xenoverse 2 online?
Up to six, depending on the mode. Expert Missions and raids support five or six players.
Do you need PS Plus to play Xenoverse 2 online?
Yes. The PlayStation Store listing says PS Plus is required for online play.
Does the Switch version have split screen?
Only for one-on-one matches on a single system. For more players, use local wireless with separate consoles.
Can Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players play together?
Yes. The Xbox Store lists cross-generation multiplayer for the game.