Turtle Rock Studios showed off more of its upcoming project,Back 4 Blood,at this year’s E3. Among the information shared with fans was a zombie vs human mode, as well as an introduction toBack 4 Blood’s characters and zombie types. The game was delayed from its initial release date of June this year, and by the looks of the content shown at E3, developer Turtle Rock Studios has put the extra time to good use. Overall, the game was one of the highlights of the Xbox showcase, and fans are excited to get their hands on the game.
Fans have been waiting a long time for the release ofBack 4 Blood, and even longer for a modernLeft 4 Deadgame. While Back 4 Blood isn’t a direct sequel toLeft 4 Dead 2, it’s widely considered to be its spiritual successor. Turtle Rock Studios were involved with bothLeft 4 Deadgames, and theBack 4 Bloodgameplay trailerspaint a picture of a game very heavily influenced by Turtle Rock Studios' past endeavors. However,Back 4 Blooddoes differ from its predecessors in its split-screen option, or lack thereof, which should be addressed either before or shortly after launch.
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The Successor To Left 4 Dead
Overall, fans of theLeft 4 Deadfranchise are very pleased to finally see the spiritual successor to their favorite game approaching its release. They have now been waiting over a decade forthe nextLeft 4 Deadgame to release, andBack 4 Bloodfits that billing almost perfectly.Back 4 Blood’sgameplay trailers have made it very clear that its aim is to fill the void left behind byLeft 4 Dead, but fans have expressed concern at a seeming disregard for offline gamers. The game can be played solo, but an online connection is required. Most concerningly, the game will not support split-screen co-op at launch.
Unfortunately for old-school gamers, couch co-op is off the table forBack 4 Blood. While split-screen co-op is becoming increasingly uncommon in modern games, it’s disappointing that such an important feature inLeft 4 Deadis being omitted from its successor. Obviously, the rise of online gaming has really reduced the demand for split-screen in co-op games, making it less of a priority for developers. However, while online co-op has become the preference for many, gamers' memories of games likeLeft 4 Deadare inherently tied to the experience of couch co-op. If Turtle Rock Studios is to add anyfeatures toBack 4 Bloodgoing forward, split-screen should be top of the list.
Back 4 Blood Won’t Have Offline Gameplay
The main complaints from fans focus on the inability to playBack 4 Bloodwhile offlineand the lack of a split-screen component. Each complaint is commonplace in the modern gaming landscape, with fans frustrated at their inability to enjoy video games without a consistent connection. Turtle Rock Studios has indicated its intention to add offline play in the future, which could suggest an openness to adding other features, such as split-screen to the game. WhileBack 4 Bloodis only a few months out from release, its developer has made no secret of its intention to add some heavily requested features down the line.
Turtle Rock Studios' decision not to add these features at launch stems from a desire to perfect other elements of the game. When asked, Lead Producer Matt O’Driscoll confirmed thatBack 4 Bloodwould not support split-screen at launch because of the team’s desire to focus on other elements of the game. He did, however, leave the door open to its implementation in the future should fans want it. Turtle Rock Studios wants the release of its game to go over as smoothly as possible, hence the decision to shelve certain features present inLeft 4 Deadgames. However, its desire to add toBack 4 Bloodpost-launchspells good news for old-school gamers.
Back 4 Bloodreleases on June 23, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
