Depending on how you would like to play split-screen coop for Don't Starve Together on Nintendo Switch, there are a couple of ways to go about setting up your split-screen server.
Playing Split-screen online
Playing Split-screen offline
Playing Split Screen online
NOTE: If both players wish to play the split-screen game online with other people online, both players will need active Nintendo Switch Online memberships. If one player does not have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, the split-screen server will default to Offline mode, and there will be no access to skins, items, etc.
To set up an online, split-screen server:
Players will need to have 2 controllers configured via the “Controllers'' option in the Nintendo Switch Home Menu. Player 1 then needs to start up the game and advance to the Don't Starve Together Main Menu screen. On the Main Menu screen, Player 2 presses the corresponding button on their controller (default [+]) to join.
Player 1 will need to choose “Host Game” > Choose a save slot for their save/server file > choose the server’s playstyle > and then they can choose to make their server a Public, Friends Only, or a Local Only server.
Public - Players online can join your server,
Friends Only - Only players on your friend list can join the server,
Local Only - Only players within the local area network can join the server
Once all server settings have been set up and both players are ready to play split-screen, Player 1 presses the corresponding button on their controller [+] to generate the world.
NOTE FOR SPLIT-SCREEN LAN GAMES: For Local Only/LAN games, the joining player(s) will need to navigate to "Browse Games" in the main menu > and in the server filters settings, change “Connection” to LAN as their parameter. The server listing will only show available games on their local area network.
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Playing Split Screen Offline
NOTE: Playing in offline mode does not connect to our item servers and players will not have access to their skins, items, etc.
To set up an offline, split-screen server:
Players will need to have 2 controllers configured via the “Controllers” option in the Switch Home Menu. Player 1 then needs to start up the game, choose PLAY on the game’s starting screen, and while the game is connecting, choose PLAY OFFLINE. This will start the game, but in offline mode.
Advance to the Don’t Starve Together Main Menu screen. On the Main Menu screen, Player 2 presses the corresponding button on their controller (default [+]) to join.
Player 1 will need to choose "Host Game"> Choose a save slot for their save/server file > choose the server’s playstyle > Local Only is the only available option for offline split-screen coop games.
Once all server settings have been set up and both players are ready to play split-screen coop offline, Player 1 presses the corresponding button on their controller [+] to generate the world.
NOTE FOR SPLIT-SCREEN LAN GAMES: For Local Only/LAN games, the joining player(s) will need to navigate to Browse Games in the main menu > for offline games, “Connection” will default to “LAN” as their parameter. The server listing will only show games available on their local area network.
If you have tried all steps listed above and are still unable to play the game in split-screen, please report your issue in the Don't Starve Together Nintendo Switch Bug Tracker with as much information about the issue as possible.