While PC was its primary home, its success as a console game came about from its couch co-op functionality if you had a friend over, you could both play split-screen on the same console. More details on the playable undead are expected to arrive tomorrow during Shacknews' hands-on time with the title. Cooperative drop-in multiplayer was the backbone of Left 4 Dead when it released way back in 2008. Left 4 Dead is slated to arrive November 4. Louis, for example, has lost his dreadlocks and battle armor, replaced by blood-splatted dress shirt, a loose tie, and a bald head. The new character designs better reflect the characters' status as survivors of a recent outbreak instead of hardened battle veterans. Universal Split Screen is a standalone application that directs Windows input to enable local multiplayer in PC games with keyboards, mice and controllers. Newell also noted that the game's four survivor characters have been redesigned. The game will let players assume control of undead foes as well, though the exact details of that functionality have not been disclosed.

It was unclear if that functionality is limited to the Xbox 360 version, or if it will be included in the PC edition as well. Valve's multiplayer-focused zombie survival shooter Left 4 Dead (PC, 360) will include two-person split-screen play in addition to four-person online cooperative survival play, co-founder Gabe Newell revealed at EA's E3 press event.

Left 4 dead 4 player split screen