Final Fantasy VII Remake Gets 2 Player Cooperative Mod With Split Screen Gameplay
A new fan developed mod is bringing 2 player cooperative gameplay to Final Fantasy VII Remake, allowing players to explore Midgar and fight alongside each other. Created by modder Christian Budd, the project introduces local multiplayer, independent character control, and customizable split screen options to Square Enix's traditionally single player RPG.
The developer demonstrated the mod in an hour long gameplay video, playing through Chapter 1 alongside his daughter. The demonstration shows 1 player controlling Cloud while the second takes control of Barret, with both characters able to move independently, explore environments, and participate in combat. The implementation also supports character switching, optional independent cameras, and adjustable split screen layouts, allowing players to customize their cooperative experience.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Cooperative Mod Features
| Feature | Current Implementation |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer | 2 player local cooperative |
| Display | Customizable split screen |
| Character Control | Independent movement and combat |
| Exploration | Optional independent free roaming |
| Character Switching | Supported |
| Combat Menus | Controlled by Player 1 |
| Online Multiplayer | Not currently supported |
| PC Compatibility | Steam, with Epic Games support planned |
| Public Release | In development |
According to the developer's Reddit announcement, the mod remains in development and requires additional testing before public distribution. Budd hopes to release it through Nexus Mods once stability and compatibility improvements are complete. Online multiplayer is not currently planned, although remote play applications could potentially allow 2 players to connect over the internet, depending on network latency.
Budd also confirmed that AI assisted programming was used during development, allowing him to create the initial implementation within approximately 1 week. The mod includes configurable combat balancing options, including ATB generation, enemy health, and stagger values, while leaving the game's executable unchanged. Despite the progress, shared menu functionality remains limited, and the developer intends to prioritize polishing the existing experience before considering other games.
The project could eventually expand to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, although Budd has not committed to developing a compatible version. Such an expansion would introduce additional challenges due to the more demanding environments and expanded combat systems, particularly as Square Enix continues evolving the series' combat mechanics for Final Fantasy VII Revelation.
Final Fantasy VII Remake already has a combat system that lends itself naturally to cooperative gameplay, making this mod an interesting demonstration of what Square Enix could have implemented officially. Allowing players to control different party members simultaneously adds another layer of coordination without fundamentally changing the game's combat structure.
The biggest challenges are shared menus, combat balancing, and performance when rendering multiple viewpoints. Nevertheless, the rapid development of this project demonstrates how accessible modding tools and AI assisted programming are enabling smaller creators to experiment with features traditionally reserved for larger development teams.
If the final release proves stable, cooperative gameplay could provide an excellent reason for fans to revisit Midgar.
Would you replay Final Fantasy VII Remake with a friend using split screen cooperative gameplay, or do you prefer the original single player combat system?
