It Takes Two

Prepare one screen for two players

This guide uses the PS5 edition of the full It Takes Two base game, installed and updated, in local split-screen story co-op. Use one PS5, one television or monitor, the console's power and display cables, two charged and paired DualSense controllers, a charging/pairing USB cable and two comfortable viewing positions. If your game entitlement needs a disc, keep the correct disc in a compatible drive. Test the full game and both controllers before meeting; install and entitlement checks belong in preparation.

Select the PS5 version deliberately if your library offers both PS4 and PS5. A PS4 DualShock 4 is not the controller for this PS5 setup. PC, Xbox and Switch can also offer two-player co-op, but their equipment and joining steps differ. This session uses one full game on one console; the separate online Friend's Pass invitation process is unnecessary for the second person at this screen.

Turn on both controllers and assign them to separate local console users when prompted. Launch the game with the save owner's usual user, choose Play Local and follow the displayed join prompt on each controller. Both players must be joined before starting. Choose one person as Cody and the other as May. For a new story, use New Game only with permission to change that save; otherwise choose Continue. Chapter Select is for a deliberate replay of unlocked content, rather than the default way to resume.

Agree that tonight ends at the current chapter's completion, before beginning the next. This is a host stopping suggestion, not a time limit or a promise to complete a chapter in one sitting. Either player may stop sooner. Check subtitles, game volume and each character's camera settings together; soft conversation should remain audible. The story contains arguments about separation and some upsetting fantasy events, so agree that either person can pause or leave a scene without needing to explain.

Learn your character before the next obstacle

On the default PS5 layout, move with the left stick and look with the right. Cross jumps, square dashes and triangle interacts. Pressing the right stick helps locate the other player. R1 is rope grapple; L2 and R2 operate chapter abilities when available. Read the current prompts: a new tool changes what those ability buttons do.

Start in a safe area by moving and turning the camera separately, then try the prompted jump and interaction. Each person should identify their character and view before moving on. Chase Camera Assistance and sensitivity have separate May and Cody settings; try assistance or slower camera movement if useful, then check how it feels. These options do not remove all aiming or timed platforming. Pause to review controls whenever needed.

Combine the two roles to move forward

Finish a chapter and check the saved return

The story's result is shared progress, not a total of player points. Completing a chapter is tonight's suggested finish; completing the game's final story is the campaign finish. There is no individual winner or campaign tie-break. A side activity's own displayed result does not decide who won the story.

At the transition to the next chapter, let any saving indicator finish, then use the pause/menu prompts to return to the main menu. Before closing the application, check that Continue returns you to the expected progress; allow any resumed scene to finish saving before exiting again. If either person stops earlier, reach a saved checkpoint if comfortable, wait for saving and do the same return check. If someone needs to stop immediately, stop: part of an unfinished encounter may need replaying.

Next time, launch with the same save owner's console user, join local play and use Continue. Use Chapter Select only when both intend to revisit an unlocked chapter or section. If the return is wrong, check the console user, game version and unlocked chapter choices before starting a new game. Do not overwrite or delete the save as a first remedy; use platform/EA support if progress remains missing. A saving icon is not a guarantee against every save fault.

Keep the partnership useful

Give each person room to learn the camera and buttons. The game includes timed jumps, aiming and action sequences as well as puzzles, so describe it honestly before inviting someone who wants a purely turn-based evening. Sit where both views and prompts are legible; adjust volume and subtitles together. Seated play does not establish suitability for every vision, motion or hand-control need.

When stuck, compare both views and ability prompts before guessing repeatedly. Ask 'What changes when you press that?' or 'Would you like a hint?' Avoid diagnosing the other person's skill after every failure. If frustration builds, pause, change the plan or call tonight's finish; one more attempt needs both people's agreement. Skip a cinematic only by agreement so one person does not miss the story.

The game decides whether an interaction succeeded and when a route unlocks. A failed input is not a reason to assign blame or add penalties. If a controller stops responding, pause, check its battery and assigned console user, reconnect and resume. If joining fails, confirm the full game, correct PS5 edition and two separate controllers/users before relaunching. Relaunch only after checking saving. Remote co-op, cloud streaming and mixed-platform troubleshooting are separate setups.

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