Guides

Couch co-op on PC, with a separate screen for each player.

You can play together on one PC without split-screen by giving each player their own seat: a full screen of their own, their own keyboard, mouse or controller, and their own Windows session. Hydra Multi-Seat does this on Windows 10 and 11.

One PC, a seat for everyone: Hydra Multi-Seat in under two minutes.

Why a screen each beats split-screen

Split-screen gives each player a slice of one display, and only in games built for it. With a seat each, every player has a whole screen at full size. You are not limited to the games that offer a split-screen mode, and nobody squints at a quarter of a screen.

How playing together works

Each seat is a full Windows session, so each player starts the game on their own seat, as they would on a PC of their own, and you join the same game together the way two PCs side by side would. Or play separate games and keep the couch for company: everyone runs whatever they like on their own desktop. Programs that only allow one copy at a time are not a problem: that check is kept separate for each seat, so every player can start their own copy of the same game.

What each player has

A screen of their own, or several.
A keyboard and mouse, or a game controller. Each controller can be given to a seat, one per player.
Sound through their own headset or speakers, with a volume that changes only their seat. Or share one pair of speakers, left for one player and right for the other.
Their own Windows account, so launchers and saves stay apart.

What you need

Windows 10 and 11 (x64).
A graphics card from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.
For each person, a screen, a keyboard and a mouse.
Game controllers, headsets and webcams work too: give each seat its own.

You don't need a second PC. Try your own games on your own PC in the 7-day free trial, with every feature included.

More on playing at the same time: two gamers, one PC. The wiring and the panel are covered in setting up two monitors, keyboards and mice. Playing at home with family? See one PC for the whole family and sharing one PC with your partner. Prices: pricing page.

Questions people ask

Can we play couch co-op on one PC without split-screen?

Yes. With Hydra Multi-Seat each player has a whole screen of their own, with their own keyboard and mouse or game controller, so nobody shares a divided screen.

Can each player use a controller?

Yes. Give each seat its own game controller.

Do we have to play the same game?

No. Everyone runs whatever they like on their own desktop, so one of you can play while the other does something else.

Do we need a second PC for the second player?

No. The one PC serves both players. Each player needs a screen and a keyboard, mouse or controller.

Do we pay per player?

No. One license covers every seat on that PC.

Try Hydra Multi-Seat on your own PC.

Every feature is free for 7 days. After that you pay monthly, yearly, or once for a lifetime license at the launch price. One license covers every seat on the PC, so you never pay per seat. The pricing page shows the prices in your currency.

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