Call of Duty: Vanguard on PS4 offers a thrilling Zombies experience, and while it was a bit of a bumpy ride for split-screen at launch, it is possible to play offline with a friend. Get ready to battle hordes of the undead right from your couch!
Step 1: Get Ready for Zombie Annihilation! (Engage User)
Alright, cadet! Before we dive headfirst into the undead apocalypse, let's make sure you're properly equipped. Do you have your PS4 console, a copy of Call of Duty: Vanguard, and at least two controllers ready to go? Great! Now let's turn that living room into a last stand against the zombie horde!
Step 2: Ensuring Your PS4 is Offline
To play Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies split-screen offline, it's crucial to disconnect your console from the internet. This prevents the game from trying to connect to online services and allows you to access local play options without any hiccups.
- Sub-heading: Disconnecting from the Internet
- From your PS4's main menu (the PlayStation Dynamic Menu), navigate to Settings.
- Scroll down and select Network.
- Choose Connect to the Internet and uncheck the box. This will completely disconnect your PS4 from Wi-Fi and any wired connections.
- Alternatively, for a quick disconnect, you can simply pull out the Ethernet cable from the back of your PS4 if you're using a wired connection.
Step 3: Launching Call of Duty: Vanguard
Now that your PS4 is safely offline, it's time to launch the game.
- Sub-heading: Starting the Game
- Insert your Call of Duty: Vanguard disc (if you have the physical copy) or select the game from your PS4's library.
- Wait for the game to load. You might see a message about being offline or unable to connect to online services – this is normal and exactly what we want!
Step 4: Navigating to Zombies Mode
Once the game has loaded, you'll be at the main menu. From here, you need to select the Zombies game mode.
- Sub-heading: Selecting Zombies
- Using your primary controller (Controller 1), navigate through the main menu options.
- Select "Zombies" from the available game modes.
Step 5: Connecting the Second Controller and Account
This is where the magic happens for split-screen! You'll need to bring your second player into the game.
- Sub-heading: Activating Player Two
- While in the Zombies menu (or even the main menu of the game), turn on your second PS4 controller.
- Once the second controller is on, it will prompt you to select a user. Choose a different PSN account for the second player. This account doesn't necessarily need PlayStation Plus as you're playing offline. You can even create a "Guest" account if you don't want to sign in with a full PSN profile.
- After the second controller is assigned to an account, you should see a prompt on the screen to "Press X to Join" (or a similar button, depending on the game's UI). Press X on the second controller.
- You should now see two player icons in the top right corner of the screen, indicating that both players are connected and ready for action!
Step 6: Setting Up Your Offline Zombies Match
With both players logged in, you can now customize your Zombies experience.
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Sub-heading: Game Mode and Map Selection
- Using Controller 1 (the primary player), navigate to the "Private Match" or "Local Play" option within the Zombies menu. Avoid "Public Match" as that requires an internet connection.
- Select the Zombies map you wish to play on. Vanguard initially launched with "Der Anfang," but other maps might be available depending on your game version and any past updates you've installed.
- Confirm your game settings, such as starting round, difficulty, and any other available options.
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Sub-heading: Adjusting In-Game Settings (Important for Split-Screen!) Before you jump into the game, it's highly recommended to adjust your graphical settings, especially the Field of View (FOV).
- From the Zombies lobby, go to Settings (usually found by pressing Options on your controller).
- Navigate to the Graphics tab.
- Find the "Field of View" (FOV) setting. For split-screen, increasing the FOV (e.g., to 100-120) can significantly improve visibility on your shared screen. Experiment to find what works best for you and your co-op partner.
- Note: Vanguard's split-screen for Zombies is typically a horizontal (top and bottom) split, and there usually isn't an option to change this to vertical.
Step 7: Launching the Game!
You're almost there! With everything set up, it's time to begin your offline split-screen Zombies adventure.
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Sub-heading: Starting the Action
- Ensure both players are "Ready" (you might see a prompt or need to press a button like "Square" or "X" to ready up).
- The primary player (Controller 1) can now "Start Game" or "Deploy."
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Sub-heading: Enjoying the Co-op Chaos
- You'll now be dropped into the Zombies map with your friend on a shared screen. Work together, slay zombies, complete objectives, and try to survive as many rounds as possible!
- Be aware that while playing offline, you won't earn XP or progress your online ranks. However, all weapons and attachments are typically unlocked for local play, allowing you to experiment freely.
Important Considerations:
- Mandatory Updates: While playing offline, you must have completed any mandatory game updates that were required when you first installed Call of Duty: Vanguard. If you haven't, the game might not even launch or may have limited functionality.
- Vanguard's Split-Screen Stability: It's worth noting that Call of Duty: Vanguard's Zombies split-screen functionality has been reported to be buggy by many players since its launch. While it does work for some, others have experienced crashes or instability. There have been reports of the feature being added, removed, and then re-added with continued issues.
- No Further Updates: Given that Vanguard is no longer receiving active development and updates, any existing bugs with split-screen Zombies are unlikely to be fixed. However, the steps above should still allow you to access the mode if it's functioning on your game version.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to connect a second controller for split-screen on PS4? To connect a second controller, turn it on and select a different user profile (or a guest profile) when prompted. Then, within the game, you'll usually see an on-screen prompt to "Press X to Join" for the second player.
How to make Call of Duty: Vanguard go offline on PS4? Go to your PS4's main menu, then Settings > Network, and uncheck "Connect to the Internet." Alternatively, simply unplug your Ethernet cable if you're wired.
How to access local play in Call of Duty: Vanguard? Once offline, launch the game, navigate to the desired game mode (Multiplayer or Zombies), and look for options like "Private Match" or "Local Play" instead of "Public Match."
How to change the screen orientation (horizontal/vertical) for split-screen in Vanguard? Unfortunately, Call of Duty: Vanguard split-screen is typically fixed to a horizontal (top/bottom) split, and there are no in-game options to change it to vertical.
How to adjust Field of View (FOV) for split-screen in Vanguard Zombies? From the Zombies lobby, go to Settings > Graphics, and you'll find the "Field of View" slider. Increasing this can help improve visibility on a split screen.
How to play with bots in offline Call of Duty: Vanguard? While you can play with bots in offline Multiplayer by setting up a "Local Game," the Zombies mode is primarily focused on player co-op against AI zombies and doesn't typically involve friendly bots.
How to ensure I have the latest game updates for offline play? You need to connect your PS4 to the internet and launch the game at least once to download and install any mandatory updates. Once installed, you can then disconnect and play offline.
How to deal with split-screen bugs or crashes in Vanguard Zombies? Unfortunately, due to the game no longer receiving updates, there isn't a definitive fix for persistent bugs. Ensure your game is fully updated, try restarting your console, or in some cases, re-installing the game might resolve minor issues, but major bugs may remain.
How to earn XP or progress in offline split-screen Zombies? Offline split-screen play in Call of Duty: Vanguard does not typically grant XP or contribute to your online progression. It's purely for local, casual play.
How to unlock weapons and attachments for offline split-screen in Vanguard? In offline local play, most weapons and attachments are automatically unlocked from the start, allowing you to create custom loadouts without needing to level up.