Split-screen on PC

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch

Up to 16 players on one PC, with controllers, keyboard and mouse or several keyboards and mice.

16Verified handler

Handler “Half Life 2 Deathmatch” by Snailedlt, version 3

P4+12 more players

What works

With Nucleus Co-op, up to 16 players can play Half-Life 2: Deathmatch together on one PC, each in their own part of the screen, with controllers, keyboard and mouse or several keyboards and mice. The free community handler “Half Life 2 Deathmatch” by Snailedlt does the setup and was checked by hub moderators: version 3, updated 5 Apr 2023. Half-Life 2: Deathmatch is a shooter game from 2004.

Players16
ControllersSupported
Keyboard and mouseSupported
Several keyboards and miceOne per player
Hub moderatorsVerified

How to play Half-Life 2: Deathmatch split screen on PC

Get Nucleus Co-op
Download Nucleus Co-op, free for Windows 10 and 11, and unzip it into its own folder, for example C:\NucleusCo-op. There is no installer.
Keep it out of Program Files, your user folder and OneDrive.
Download Nucleus Co-op
Install the Half-Life 2: Deathmatch handler
In Nucleus Co-op, search the Hub for Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and install its handler, or download the handler file from this page and drop it on the Nucleus window. Then show Nucleus where Half-Life 2: Deathmatch is installed.
Download the handler file (.nc)
Take a seat
Each player presses a button on their own controller to join and takes a spot on the screen. Pick a layout that fits your players.
Playing with several keyboards and mice? Press End once everything is in place to give each window its own cursor.
Launch and connect
Press Launch: Nucleus opens one copy of Half-Life 2: Deathmatch per player and lays the windows out on your screen. Then link them in game, usually one player hosts a LAN or online session and the others join it. The handler notes say how.

What you need

A Windows 10 or 11 PC
Nucleus Co-op runs on Windows only. System requirements
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch for Windows
Installed on that PC. Nucleus starts every player's window from that one install.
Nucleus Co-op, free
With .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later and the Visual C++ 2015–2022 runtimes (x86 and x64). Download
Something to play with
One controller per player, or one keyboard and mouse per player. Controllers · Keyboards and mice
A PC that can run 16 copies
Each player runs their own copy of Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, so the PC carries several times the usual load. Lower the graphics settings if it struggles. Performance tips
A multiplayer mode
Nucleus links the windows through the game's own LAN or online mode; the handler takes care of it.

Handler notes

Watch the Video guide or read below.

Create a server in one instance and join in the others using your main mouse cursor. If you use keyboards and mice after all the instances have launched, resized and positioned correctly, press the END key once to lock the input for all instances to have their own working cursor and keyboard, you need to left click each mouse to make the emulated cursors appear after locking the input. Press the END key again to unlock the input when you finish playing. You can also use CTRL+Q to close Nucleus and all its instances when the input is unlocked.

Authors and Contributors of this handler: Snailed lt and Talos91 from the Split Screen Dreams Discord

About Half-Life 2: Deathmatch

Fast multiplayer action set in the Half-Life 2 universe! HL2's physics adds a new dimension to deathmatch play. Play straight deathmatch or try Combine vs. Resistance teamplay. Toss a toilet at your friend today!

Summary from IGDB