As a note: It seems some people see split screen now as an console war issue, because it so happens BG3 has difficulties implementing it for Series S. This leads to some trying to paint split screen as pointless and replaced by online play and others trying to heighten the importance of the feature. This is both wrong. Split screen is nice to have and it totally is not the same as online play. That Series S now misses out on it is a shame, but no dealbreaker. See that as a thing different from console wars. And it can be seen that split screen is a dying feature exactly because Larian has difficulties implementing it, which means it is an expensive feature and exactly because it is not a dealbreaker if it is missing. The conclusion for most profit driven companies is, that they can omit the feature and hence save money and people will still buying their games, as we do. We can still be happy if the feature is present and feel it is a shame if it is missing. And you can look at Youtube plays to see that some are indeed using it in BG3 and having fun. Especially spouses seem to like to play together in split screen.

So please don't see split screen as a console war thingie, it is not. Actually I like my Xbox and will probably double dip into BG3 with the console as well, yet I also will still like split screen play. Liking Xbox doesn't mean I have an obligation to now suddenly disliking split screen.

Counter argument?  Why?  Different opinions, nothing more.  I have a wife and two kids.  Multiple TVs and duplicate hardware is silly for my situation.  Especially when Nintendo and Gear Box have no issues supporting local multi-player.  Local multi-player is awesome with the family.  Games with local support tend to be day 1 purchases.  If companies don't support local then they run the risk of losing my support.  If Halo Infinite had split screen I would own a xbox.  So MS is missing out on money by going online only.

To each their own.

Edit

Also owning multiple hardware and owning duplicate hardware are two different things.  I have a PC, ps5 and switch.  I'm not buying a second (and redundant PC) because halo dropped split screen.  

Yeah, good point. I own a lot of tech, but because it offers me something. So I have different gaming devices (Switch, Xbox and PC), because they all offer me different experiences. But there is no point for me duplicating these devices. Similar with screens, they are attached to places. I wouldn't have two screens in my living room for one being unused a lot of the time and I don't install a second screen once a friend is over (I wouldn't even know where to place it), but I can play Mario Kart with these friends on my one big screen and have a blast without much hassle.

Exactly 

Late reply, was randomly banned. No idea why.

Online is a superior way to play multiplayer. There is literally no benefit that couch co-op offers over online except for the social aspect. It's just a simple fact. 

Couch co-op can possibly be patched in the future, it's definitely not worth delaying an entire game for. Xbox and Larian choosing to release the game excluding the feature on the S is the best decision they made. More people are pleased than disappointed. They have now gained an entire eco system of gamers that can play their game while 1% of them want Split screen on the Series S will just have to play online instead which is a better way to play anyway.

Good for you, but majority of gamers play online now.

There is no benefit... except. So there is a benefit. And yes, this social aspect may not be important for you, but this aspect exists. So online cannot replace split screen and therefore is not superior. It is just a simple fact.

See, this I agree on. The reason for the delay was the policy from MS or possibly a misunderstanding, but speaking with Phil Spencer helped to resolve it and I agree everyone profits from that decision. Split screen is a cool feature, but it also not a dealbreaker and therefore it is good that now Larian is allowed to deactivate it on Series S. Now Xbox players can probably play this amazing game this year already. This is a good solution. And if Larian finds a technical solution down the way, they can patch in split screen for S later.

I actually have 2 screens in the living room, just moved the old 1080p tv to the side when we bought a 4K HDR screen. I used it a lot for GT Sport while others were watching TV or playing something else.

But it's not really any solution to lacking split-screen. Yes it can be made to work and we did to play couch co-op in Sea of Thieves. But it's a lot of hassle, connecting my gaming laptop to the other tv then getting the PC and console version to connect and work together. Playing with lag for no reason and still subject to random attacks (but that's a design decision). We only did that twice and decided it wasn't worth the hassle, nor tying up two screens. 65" screen is more than big enough for split-screen, lag free local co-op without connection issues and login hassle.
 

As you see above online is inferior to local play. It might work better with LAN play but I think that's really dead lol. (Although plenty games still have P2P multiplayer so would essentially be the same)

But yes, games are still mostly targeted to teens / young adults sitting by themselves in their rooms. More mature / older gamers have more options so I'll just play BG3 on PS5 since it comes out their first. Series X can probably run it just fine as well, yet since my kid has a PS5 as well, one digital copy will get all of us playing.

Anyway it's a deal breaker for me, yet the Series S was that already. I bought Series X initially to play Halo Infinite in split-screen co-op. Cancelled. Gears 5 co-op was a miss. Forza 8 dropped it. BG3 sticking with PS5. Starfield better be good as it's just another (4k) blu-ray player atm.

Split screen on Nintendo consoles is mostly for those who play with people who don’t have their own Switch, yet.

Yeah I loved it too back in the day. My friends and family had many good times with split screen. But sadly, technology has made the idea of split screen almost obsolete

I've been gaming longer than you've been alive.