Split Fiction Friend's Pass: How to Play Co-op for Free
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- What the Friend's Pass is
- What each player needs
- Online subscriptions by platform
- How to play Split Fiction with the Friend's Pass
- The free trial: when nobody owns the game yet
- What the Friend's Pass doesn't include
- No achievements or trophies for the guest
- It isn't needed for couch co-op
- No solo mode
- If you don't have anyone to play with
- Frequently asked questions
- Is Split Fiction free with the Friend's Pass?
- Do both players need to buy Split Fiction?
- Does the Friend's Pass work cross-platform?
- Do you need PS Plus to use the Friend's Pass?
- Does the Friend's Pass player get achievements or trophies?
- Can you use the Friend's Pass for split-screen?
- Does the Friend's Pass work on Nintendo Switch 2?
Split Fiction can only be played by two people, but only one of you has to buy it. The Friend's Pass is a free download that lets a friend join the owner's game online and play the whole story, even on a different platform. Here's what it covers, what each player needs and how to set it up.
Last checked: November 9, 2026. Details come from EA's official Friend's Pass explainer and the PlayStation, Xbox, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2 store listings.
What the Friend's Pass is
The Friend's Pass is a free version of Split Fiction. On its own it only opens the first part of the game, but when a friend who owns the full game invites you, you can play every chapter with them from start to finish.
A few things worth knowing up front:
- Only the host needs the full game. The full game is $49.99 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and Switch 2. The Friend's Pass costs nothing.
- It works across platforms. A PS5 owner can bring in a friend on PC, an Xbox player can invite someone on Switch 2, and so on. The Friend's Pass was the first crossplay feature in a Hazelight game.
- There's no limit on invites. The owner can play with as many different Friend's Pass players as they like.
- It's online only. Both players need a constant internet connection for the whole session.
What each player needs
| Requirement | Game owner | Friend's Pass player |
|---|---|---|
| Game | Full Split Fiction game | Free Friend's Pass |
| Internet | Constant connection | Constant connection |
| Platform account | PSN, Xbox, Steam, EA or Nintendo account | Same |
| EA Account | Free, needed for crossplay | Free, needed for crossplay |
| Online subscription | Depends on platform (see below) | Depends on platform |
Online subscriptions by platform
Online co-op follows each console's normal rules, so the Friend's Pass being free doesn't remove the subscription requirement.
| Platform | Where to find the Friend's Pass | Online requirement |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | PlayStation Store, listed as "Split Fiction - Friend's Pass" (free) | PlayStation Plus. The Friend's Pass listing itself says PS Plus is required for online play. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Microsoft Store | Xbox's store page says online multiplayer on console needs Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate. |
| PC (Steam) | Split Fiction's Steam store page, under "Play Split Fiction - Friend's Pass" | No subscription |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Nintendo eShop | Nintendo Switch Online membership and a Nintendo Account |
Hazelight also lists the Epic Games Store and the EA app as PC storefronts, and EA says the Friend's Pass works on any platform the game is sold on.
How to play Split Fiction with the Friend's Pass
EA describes the process in four steps. Here it is with the practical details added:
- The owner installs the full game. Only one of you needs to buy it.
- The friend installs the Friend's Pass. Search your platform's store for "Split Fiction Friend's Pass", or open the main Split Fiction store page and look for the free Friend's Pass option.
- Link an EA Account if you're on different platforms. Crossplay runs through a free EA Account, so both players should sign in to one before trying a cross-platform invite.
- The owner sends an in-game invite and the friend accepts it. The owner hosts, and from then on you can play the entire game together.
Since the owner hosts, the game follows the owner's progress. If the owner is halfway through, the Friend's Pass player can join them there; they don't have to start from chapter one.
The free trial: when nobody owns the game yet
You can also try Split Fiction before either of you buys it. If both players download the Friend's Pass, you can play the opening stages together. According to the PlayStation Store listing, that trial works in couch co-op on one system or online across platforms.
If you like it and one of you then buys the full game, EA says you can keep going from where you stopped instead of replaying the start.
What the Friend's Pass doesn't include
No achievements or trophies for the guest
Trophy and achievement guides from PowerPyx and urgametips agree that only the player who owns the full game earns trophies and achievements. If you're the Friend's Pass player, you'll play the whole game but your account won't unlock anything. See our Split Fiction achievements and trophies guide for the full list.
It isn't needed for couch co-op
The Friend's Pass is for online play. If you're on the same couch, one copy on one PS5, Xbox, PC or Switch 2 is enough: plug in a second controller and play in split-screen.
There are two more ways to share one copy:
- Steam Remote Play Together: Split Fiction supports it on Steam, so a PC owner can stream the game to a friend over the internet.
- GameShare on Switch 2: a Switch 2 owner can invite a nearby player over local wireless with only one copy. The second player can use a Switch 2 or an original Nintendo Switch, but an original Switch can only join a Switch 2 host.
No solo mode
Split Fiction is co-op only. There's no way to play it alone, which is why the Friend's Pass exists in the first place.
If you don't have anyone to play with
EA suggests the "Looking for Player" channels on the official Hazelight Discord server. Because of crossplay, a partner you find there doesn't have to be on your platform.
For a full rundown of which platforms can play together and what each one needs, see our Split Fiction crossplay guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Split Fiction free with the Friend's Pass?
Yes, for the second player. The Friend's Pass is a free download, and as long as your partner owns the full game you can play the whole story with them. On consoles you still need the platform's online subscription, such as PS Plus on PS5.
Do both players need to buy Split Fiction?
No. Only one player has to own the full game. The other player downloads the free Friend's Pass and joins the owner online.
Does the Friend's Pass work cross-platform?
Yes. The Friend's Pass supports crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. Both players need a free EA Account to connect across platforms.
Do you need PS Plus to use the Friend's Pass?
Yes, on PS5. The PlayStation Store listing for the Friend's Pass says PS Plus is required for online play. On Steam you don't need any subscription.
Does the Friend's Pass player get achievements or trophies?
No. Trophy guides agree that only the owner of the full game earns achievements and trophies. The Friend's Pass player can still play every chapter.
Can you use the Friend's Pass for split-screen?
You don't need it for split-screen. Couch co-op on one system only needs one copy of the game. The Friend's Pass trial can be played in couch co-op, but only for the opening stages.
Does the Friend's Pass work on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. EA confirmed the Friend's Pass for the Switch 2 version, which launched on June 5, 2025. You need a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo Switch Online membership for online play.
