Split-screen on PC

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

Up to 4 players on one PC, with controllers.

4Verified handler

Handler “Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2” by birden, version 1

What works

With Nucleus Co-op, up to 4 players can play Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 together on one PC, each in their own part of the screen, with controllers. The free community handler “Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2” by birden does the setup and was checked by hub moderators: version 1, updated 29 Aug 2024. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 is a racing game from 2002.

Players4
ControllersSupported
Keyboard and mouseNot supported
Several keyboards and miceNot supported
Hub moderatorsVerified

How to play Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 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 Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 handler
In Nucleus Co-op, search the Hub for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 and install its handler, or download the handler file from this page and drop it on the Nucleus window. Then show Nucleus where Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 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.
Launch and connect
Press Launch: Nucleus opens one copy of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 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
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 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: Xbox, PlayStation or generic pads. Controllers
A PC that can run 4 copies
Each player runs their own copy of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 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

Video tutorial/showcasing: https://youtu.be/cRWQzCX8PUs

Tested with the abandonware version of the game: https://www.myabandonware.com/game/need-for-speed-hot-pursuit-2-dna (repack is better).

Recommended that you add custom resolutions to all your monitors from your AMD/Nvidia/Intel panel (for example if you are using a monitor resolution of 1920x1080 add custom resolutions like 1920x540, 960x1080, 960x540, etc.).

The handler installs and uses hp2wsfix by xan1242, d3d9-wrapper by ThirteenAG and d3d8to9 by crosire.

About Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2

The Need for Speed series returns, this time reverting back to the 'chase' arcade experience instead of a racing simulation. Top speed racing is the name of the game, where you must outchase not just the opposing drivers, but the cops. Choose from a selection of today's (and yesterday's) top sports cars, including the Ferrari F50, Porsche 911 and a range from the likes of Ford, Corvette, BMW, Lotus, Mercedes, Aston Martin, the McLaren F1 and a lot more. The competitive race mode allows you to take on other drivers and beat them to the line. A selection of tracks allows you to not only dodge incoming traffic, but perform deadly jumps and stunts to receive points. These points, combined with the points recieved from your finishing position, can unlock new cars and tracks. The Hot Pursuit mode combines all the major elements of the competitive mode with the chance to out run the cops. They will throw everything at you to try and stop you, including running you off the road, setting up road blocks and unleashing an attack helicopter equiped with missiles. Three busts by the cops ends the race.

Summary from IGDB