Resident Evil 5 split-screen play is back, sort of

The recent transition of Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition from Games for Windows Live to Steamworks had one unexpected downside: The code that enabled the unofficial split-screen mod was removed from the new version. Capcom said code from the original GFWL release had to be changed to make it work properly with the new Untold Stories Bundle, and as a result, "the latest release currently does not work with the previous local co-op mod."

From your Steam 'Library' list, right-click on Resident Evil 5 / Biohazard 5 and select 'Properties'
Select the 'Betas' tab.
Select "Original - Original GFWL version" from the pull-down menu and click Close.
Wait for the Steam client to finish downloading the GFWL build.
Launch Resident Evil 5 / Biohazard 5.

"Please note though that this won't be an officially supported version and is not compatible with the recent Steam release, so you're playing at your own discretion," a rep said. Capcom also strongly recommended that anyone who plans on switching between the two—GFWL for split-screen and Steamworks for achievements, maybe?—back up the installation files before switching; otherwise, Steam will attempt to redownload the full game, roughly 6-8GB in size, each time the switch is made.

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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.