Capcom’s 2019 Resident Evil 2 can now be played in local co-op thanks to a new PC mod that adds a fully controllable second character to the survival horror remake. Resident Evil 2 fans will now be able to face Raccoon City together through shared-screen, split-screen, and even AI-controlled companion options.
Widely celebrated as a return to form for the series, the Resident Evil 2 remake launched in 2019 and has gone on to become one of the company’s biggest games, while helping establish the blueprint for its modern remake series. As fans will know, RE2 stars Leon and Claire but from different perspectives, with their campaigns always designed as strictly single-player adventures that intertwine at certain intervals. That makes co-op an especially interesting addition for longtime players who may already know every hallway of the RPD, as bringing someone else along changes an experience deliberately built around feeling isolated and vulnerable.
Resident Evil 2 Now Has Split-Screen Co-Op on PC
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Image via Capcom -
Image via Capcom -
Nexus Mods creator Shopcreeper01’s Local Couch Co-op mod, previously known as HUNK’y Friend, turns Resident Evil 2 into a proper two-player game rather than simply adding an NPC follower. Player 2 can control HUNK or one of several other characters, each with separate aiming, inventory, weapons, pickups, HUD elements, and a flashlight. Both players can also be attacked, trade supplies, and revive each other after being downed, while losing both characters ends the run altogether. Right now, the mod supports shared-screen and split-screen play, plus an AI companion mode for solo players, but fans should note that the whole package requires the Steam PC version and REFramework to run properly. It even includes an experimental mode inspired by Pragmata, where one player handles movement while another handles aiming and shooting.
Drag weapons to fill the grid
Drag weapons to fill the grid
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Of course, having backup inevitably changes the way Resident Evil 2 feels. The 2019 remake built up much of its tension from forcing Leon or Claire to make uncomfortable decisions alone, whether that means conserving ammunition, squeezing past a zombie, or hearing Mr. X’s footsteps while already low on health. A second gun would definitely make some encounters easier. Still, another player also means another person who can get grabbed, burn through supplies, or go down at exactly the wrong moment. Shopcreeper01 originally began developing the companion concept partly so his wife could get help playing games that frightened her, making the mod’s evolution into full co-op feel especially fitting.
Co-op also has a surprisingly long history within Resident Evil. The cult-classic Outbreak games let groups of ordinary survivors attempt to escape Raccoon City with up to four players, while Resident Evil 5 built its entire campaign around Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar working together. Resident Evil 6 pushed even further toward co-op action, and Revelations 2 later paired its characters around complementary co-op abilities. What makes this mod particularly notable is where it applies that formula. Modern Resident Evil remakes have leaned heavily into slower survival horror, so putting another player inside RE2 almost feels like dropping Resident Evil 5‘s defining concept into one of Capcom’s most deliberately claustrophobic games.
That comparison is especially interesting as fans keep wondering whether Capcom will eventually remake Resident Evil 5. No such project has been officially announced, but co-op would be one of the biggest questions if Chris and Sheva’s adventure ever gets the same treatment as RE2 and RE4, since a partner is baked into nearly every part of that campaign. For now, however, at least PC players don’t have to wait for Capcom’s next cooperative experiment to see how modern Resident Evil feels with a friend.
- Released
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January 25, 2019
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence
