Halo 2

What works

With Nucleus Co-op, up to 16 players can play Halo 2 together on one PC, each in their own part of the screen, with controllers or keyboard and mouse. The free community handler “Halo 2 Project Cartographer” by Talos91 does the setup and was checked by hub moderators: version 16, updated 28 Sept 2025. Halo 2 is a shooter game from 2004.

• Players16
• ControllersSupported
• Keyboard and mouseSupported
• Several keyboards and miceNot supported
• Hub moderatorsVerified

How to play Halo 2 split screen on PC

1. 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

2. Install the Halo 2 handler

   In Nucleus Co-op, search the Hub for Halo 2 and install its handler, or download the handler file from this page and drop it on the Nucleus window. Then show Nucleus where Halo 2 is installed.

   Download the handler file (.nc)

3. 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.

4. Launch and connect

   Press Launch: Nucleus opens one copy of Halo 2 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

• Halo 2 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; one player can use the keyboard and mouse. Controllers

• A PC that can run 16 copies

  Each player runs their own copy of Halo 2, 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

Halo 2 screenshots