DCS World Steam Edition: split-screen and player count

18 Mar 2018
100players
Evenings at a time

Simulation · Flight · Military

A free combat flight simulator with study-level aircraft, where nearly every cockpit switch works and missions range from dogfights to strike packages.

85%Very positive41,000 Steam reviews440 playing nowSteam Deck playable

Who can play

No split-screen on any platform.
Same room, own screens for up to 100 players on PC.
Online for up to 100 players on PC.
Free to play.

SteamPrice on SteamPlay free

Free to play

How it plays

Friends fly together on a server one of them hosts or on community servers with ongoing campaigns, as wingmen, on opposing sides, or sharing the cockpit of a multi-seat aircraft.
Learning one aircraft takes many hours, so it suits groups that enjoy studying procedures, and a joystick helps.
The base game includes two free aircraft; everyone buys any other aircraft and maps they want to fly.

Action
Strategy

Is it good

85%

Very positive on Steam

of 41,000 reviewsRead on Steam (opens the store in a new tab)

440 playing on Steam, counted dailySteam Deck Playable

Every way to play together

No split-screen. Online for up to 100 on PC. Free to play. LAN play for up to 100 on PC. 85% positive of 41,000 Steam reviews.

- PC
PC
Same screen
No
Same room, own screens
100players, co-op and versus, full story togetherCheck (how we check facts)
Any player can host a server on the local network, the same server as online; the mission sets how many slots there are.
Online
100players, co-op and versus, full story togetherEditor (how we check facts)
A player hosts from the game or runs the free dedicated server; the mission sets the slots, and group events fly 100 or more. Players can also share a multi-seat aircraft.

CheckDetails marked Check are being verified. How we check facts

Quick facts

Developer: Eagle Dynamics
Publisher: Eagle Dynamics SA
Platforms: PC
Series: Digital Combat Simulator
Released: 18 Mar 2018 on PC
Controllers: Partial controller support on PC
Languages: Text in 7 languages, voices in 2

In these lists

Answers

Updated October 27, 2026

Does DCS World Steam Edition have couch co-op?: No. DCS World Steam Edition has no same-screen multiplayer; play it together online instead.
How many players can play DCS World Steam Edition together?: Local co-op and versus on separate screens for up to 100 on PC. Online co-op and versus for up to 100 on PC.
Do you need two copies of DCS World Steam Edition?: No. It's free to play.; One of 1,371 co-op games where one copy is enough
Can you play the DCS World Steam Edition story together?: Yes: the main campaign is playable together on a local network and online.
What platforms is DCS World Steam Edition on?: PC.; One of 3,994 co-op games
Does DCS World Steam Edition work on Steam Deck?: Yes, with some extra steps: Steam rates it Playable for Steam Deck.
Is DCS World Steam Edition free?: Yes, it's free to play.

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