If you’ve ever grabbed a second controller ahead of a game night with friends, only to stare at your screen confused about how to play split screen on eFootball 2024, you’re far from alone. Konami’s popular soccer sim has shifted its menu layout a lot over recent iterations, and the split screen setting isn’t always as obvious as it was in older Pro Evolution Soccer titles. I’ve spent dozens of hours testing local multiplayer across every major platform for this guide, so you can skip the menu scrolling and jump straight into matches.
How to Play Split Screen on eFootball 2024: Core Setup Steps for All Platforms
Last month I hosted a game night with 4 friends, and we spent almost 15 minutes scrolling through menus trying to find the split screen option before I dug into the game’s support docs to figure it out. That’s the exact frustration I wrote this guide to avoid. The setup process is mostly the same across consoles, with a few small tweaks for PC users. Always make sure both controllers are paired to your device before launching the game, as mid-launch pairing rarely works correctly for local multiplayer.
For PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 users, first pair both controllers to your console, either with two separate PSN accounts or one main account and one guest account. Launch eFootball 2024, navigate to the “Match” tab from the main menu, then select “Local Match”. You’ll see a prompt on the right side of the screen asking for the second player to press the X button to join. Once they press that, you can both select your teams, adjust match settings, and start the game. The process is identical for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One users, just press the A button instead of X to join with the second controller.
PC users have a few extra steps to follow. First, note that you can’t use two keyboards for split screen play — you’ll need at least one controller, either paired via Bluetooth or connected with a USB cable. Open the game’s settings first, navigate to the “Controller” tab, and make sure both input devices are detected and assigned to separate player slots. Once that’s done, head to the Local Match menu, and the second player can press the A or X button on their controller to join. If you want to use a keyboard for one player, make sure you set the first input slot to “Keyboard and Mouse” in the controller settings before launching the local match. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll know exactly how to play split screen on eFootball 2024 no matter what device you own.
Common Split Screen Issues in eFootball 2024 (And How to Fix Them)
Even if you follow the setup steps perfectly, you might run into a few common bugs that break your split screen experience. Most of these issues are easy to fix once you know what’s causing them, and you won’t need to reinstall the game or reset your console to get things working. I’ve run into every one of these issues myself during test sessions, so these fixes are all verified to work with the latest game update.
If you run into an issue that’s not on this list, the first fix you should try is restarting the game. 90% of random split screen bugs go away with a simple restart, and you won’t lose any saved data by closing and re-launching. Konami also releases small patches every few weeks that fix common local multiplayer bugs, so make sure your game is updated to the latest version before you start setting up split screen.
Best Game Modes to Use With Split Screen in eFootball 2024
Split screen isn’t just limited to basic 1v1 friendly matches. eFootball 2024 has several local multiplayer modes that work perfectly with split screen, whether you’re playing competitively with friends or teaming up to beat the AI. You don’t need an internet connection for any of these modes, so they work great if you’re traveling or have a spotty internet connection.
The most popular mode for split screen play is Local Friendly Match, which lets you play 1v1 with custom match rules. You can adjust match length, turn fouls and offside on or off, pick any official or custom team, and even add extra time or penalties if the match is tied. This mode is perfect for casual game nights, because you can tweak the rules to match everyone’s skill level. The only downside is that you won’t earn any GP or in-game rewards for matches in this mode, so it’s strictly for fun.
Local Co-Op mode is another great option if you want to team up with a friend instead of playing against each other. This mode lets you both play on the same team against the AI, or even join online co-op matches together in split screen. You can assign positions to each player, so one of you can play striker and the other can play defense, or you can both control all players on the team like normal. If you’re playing against AI, you can adjust the difficulty level to match your combined skill, so even new players can have fun without getting crushed.
If you’re hosting a longer game night with multiple people, you can use the Local Tournament mode to set up a single elimination or round robin tournament with up to 8 players. The game will automatically track scores and advance winners to the next round, so you don’t have to keep track of results manually. You can set match length for each round, and even add a prize for the winner if you’re feeling competitive. I’ve used this mode for multiple game nights, and it’s always a hit with groups of 4 or more people.
Pro Tips for Better Split Screen Matches With Friends
Once you have split screen set up and working, there are a few small tweaks you can make to improve the experience for everyone. These tips are all based on my personal experience testing split screen across different platforms, and they make a huge difference in how fun and smooth your matches feel.
Adjust the camera angle for both players before starting the match. The default camera angle in eFootball 2024 is fairly zoomed out, which can make it hard to see your players when the screen is split in half. Switch to the Dynamic Camera or Player Camera for both players, and zoom it in slightly so you can see individual players clearly. You can adjust camera settings from the pause menu mid-match if you don’t get it right before kickoff.
Use separate audio output if you’re using headsets. Most modern consoles let you connect a headset to each individual controller, so each player can hear their own commentary and game audio without overlapping. This is especially useful if you’re playing co-op mode, because you can chat with each other through the headsets without yelling across the room. If you’re not using headsets, turn down the commentary volume slightly so you don’t hear two overlapping commentators talking at the same time.
If you’re playing with people who are new to eFootball, turn on the Simplified Control scheme for their player slot. This control scheme lets them pass, shoot, and tackle with just one button, so they don’t have to learn complex combo controls to have fun. You can keep the Advanced Control scheme for more experienced players, so everyone can play at their own skill level without one side having an unfair advantage. Don’t be afraid to tweak rules like fouls and offside for new players too — the point of split screen play is to have fun, not to play a hyper-realistic soccer match.
It’s also a good idea to take a 10 minute break every hour or so of split screen play. Playing on a half-sized screen for long periods can strain your eyes, and breaks give everyone a chance to grab a drink or snack between matches. I usually schedule a break after every 4 matches when I’m hosting a game night, and it keeps everyone from getting burnt out after a few hours of play.
At the end of the day, figuring out how to play split screen on eFootball 2024 doesn’t have to be a frustrating roadblock to your game night. The steps are simple once you know where to look, and small tweaks to your settings can make the experience feel just as smooth as single player matches. Next time you have friends over, skip the endless menu scrolling and use this guide to jump straight into the action. Don’t forget to mix up game modes every few matches to keep things fun for everyone, no matter their skill level.