TMNT Splintered Fate Local Co-op: 4 Seats, New Powers

The free Shell Squad Co-Op Update of Nov 10 adds 24 powers, 8 tools and 8 masteries to TMNT Splintered Fate local co-op, and every store we read seats four people. The publisher says the new entries exist only in couch and online co-op, so a solo player gets the fixes but none of the new perks.

As of Nov 11: Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and Steam pages read that day. The publisher posted the update and its patch notes on Nov 10. We did not read Epic's or Apple Arcade's pages.

What the Shell Squad update unlocks for a couch

Update 2.1.0 landed Nov 10. The patch notes list 24 co-op powers, 8 co-op tools and 8 co-op masteries, one mastery per character. The powers sit in eight trees: Astral Light, Astral Dark, Flame, Robotics, Ninja, Ooze, Utrom and Water, three powers each.

The publisher's own line covers both ways to play together: "Whether you're running local couch co-op or matching up with internet friends or strangers, every co-op session now unlocks exclusive, co-op-specific powers and tools." The patch notes add that the new entries "can only be found in our Online Multiplayer and Couch Co-op modes," and that they work in the original campaign, Arcade Mode and Rat King.

A new Tool Pack room reward and shop option hands out the eight tools. Characters can also be swapped in Online Multiplayer and Couch Co-op matches.

Which new perks reward sitting close

We counted the 40 new entries in the patch notes by hand. 12 name the closest player: 4 of 24 powers, 5 of 8 tools and 3 of 8 masteries. One more tool, Bubble Trouble, names the farthest player.

Desk note: 12 of the 40 new entries name the closest player and 1 names the farthest. The notes do not say how "closest" is measured or what happens in a tie.

Chart: CouchCoopDesk. Source: the publisher's 2.1.0 patch notes of Nov 10, counted by hand.

What the update changes for a solo player

Not much of the headline. Powers, tools and masteries are co-op only. The same patch still carries fixes and tweaks that everyone gets:

• A crash in couch co-op is fixed, where all characters but one were set to an unowned skin.
• Mouse clicks no longer make controller players attack toward that spot in couch co-op.
• The publisher lists improved flame visuals and clearer Lucky Dice communication, and a Lucky Dice display joins the HUD.
• The AFK kick timer goes from 5 to 10 minutes. The notes do not say which modes the timer covers.

If you mostly play alone, the update is a set of fixes. If you play with one or three others, the new perks are for you.

Do the DLC characters get their own masteries?

Three of the eight masteries belong to Alopex, Metalhead and Slash. We could not confirm from the notes whether those masteries need the DLC that sells those characters. The update itself is free; the paid Trench Coat Pack is covered in the FAQ below.

How many seats each store lists

Every store we read tops out at four. Each prints it in its own words, and only Steam prints a screen label.

Epic and Apple Arcade pages not read.

Chart: CouchCoopDesk. Source: Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and Steam store data read Nov 11, 2026.

Xbox's minimum is 2 while Nintendo's is 1, which matches Xbox listing single-player as a separate capability. The publisher's page says "up to four players" and "four-player co-op on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch." It adds iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV through Apple Arcade. Nintendo's page is the Switch listing, not a Switch 2 Edition.

PlayStation and Steam were both discounted 75% when we read them, to $7.49. Nintendo showed no discount. We list the regular price only. All three console pages rate the game E10+; our co-op games to play with kids guide covers that age range.

Will four players share one screen?

No store or publisher page says. Steam prints "Shared/Split Screen Co-op" and "Shared/Split Screen", a label that covers a divided TV and one shared view alike. Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo print no such label, and the publisher only says "couch co-op" and "local co-op."

GODEEPER: What the Xbox and Steam screen labels cover, and why one label fits two layouts. Split screen vs shared screen vs online co-op

So we cannot tell you whether four players get four panes.

Playing the update with friends in other homes

Online co-op is four players on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo, and PlayStation needs PS Plus for it. Xbox lists cross-platform co-op and Steam lists Cross-Platform Multiplayer. Steam also lists Remote Play Together, which streams one copy to friends in other homes.

GODEEPER: How one Steam copy streams a couch game to friends in other homes, and what each guest needs. Steam Remote Play Together explained

Five or six players: the other TMNT games

Splintered Fate tops out at four. Our Oct 18 database lists the Xbox store at 2-6 local co-op for TMNT: Shredder's Revenge at $24.99, and 2-4 for The Cowabunga Collection at $39.99. A group of five or six has to choose the older game.

Chart: CouchCoopDesk. Source: Xbox store rows in our database, checked Oct 18, and the Splintered Fate row read Nov 11.

Our four-player local games list shows what else fits on one console.

Our take

Play TMNT: Splintered Fate with up to four on any console, and expect the new perks only in co-op. The seat count is the same everywhere, so pick the console you own. Choose Shredder's Revenge instead if you need five or six on one screen.

Skip the update as a reason to buy if you play alone: the new powers are locked to couch and online modes. Our couch co-op games for couples guide has other picks for two, and the Xbox couch co-op list and PS5 couch co-op list show the numbers per console.

What we don't know yet

Whether the TV divides or the group shares one view: no page says. Whether the Switch 2 Edition lists the same Single system count. Whether the new masteries for DLC characters need the DLC. The Trench Coat Pack price. Whether the AFK timer change applies to couch play. Which players count as "closest" in a tie.

How we checked this

We read Microsoft's Xbox catalog entry, the PlayStation Store concept page and Nintendo's US product page on Nov 11. Steam is blocked on our desk machine, so we read Steam's store data from our server that day, and compared it with an archived Steam page from Aug 9. Nintendo and PlayStation were also read from our server. We read the publisher's game page, update post and patch notes, and one outlet repeating the post. We did not read Epic's or Apple Arcade's pages. We found no player reviews to quote and read no Reddit thread for this article. We did not play the update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the Trench Coat Pack for the Shell Squad update? No. The publisher calls the Shell Squad Co-Op Update free for all players. The Trench Coat Pack is a separate paid DLC of cosmetic trench coats, and we did not read its price.

Can one player use the new co-op powers in solo play? Not according to the patch notes. The publisher says the new powers, tools and masteries can only be found in Online Multiplayer and Couch Co-op modes.

Related Reading

• SONIC PICO PARK local co-op: another game where Xbox and PlayStation list different seat counts.
• Co-op games for different skill levels: picks where a new player can keep up.
• Best couch co-op games by platform: our picks for every console and PC.

References

1. Microsoft Store catalog, TMNT: Splintered Fate: https://displaycatalog.mp.microsoft.com/v7.0/products?bigIds=9NM22MRRMX6Z&market=US&languages=en-us
2. Xbox store, TMNT: Splintered Fate: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-splintered-fate/9nm22mrrmx6z
3. PlayStation Store, TMNT: Splintered Fate: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10011976
4. Nintendo of America store, Switch listing: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-splintered-fate-switch/
5. Steam, TMNT: Splintered Fate (store data read Nov 11, 2026): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2996040
6. Steam page (archived Aug 9, 2026): http://web.archive.org/web/20260809065651/https://store.steampowered.com/app/2996040
7. Super Evil Megacorp, game page: https://superevilmegacorp.com/games/tmnt-splintered-fate/
8. Super Evil Megacorp, The Shell Squad Co-Op Update is live: https://superevilmegacorp.com/news/the-shell-squad-co-op-update-is-live/
9. Super Evil Megacorp, Shell Squad Co-Op Update patch notes: https://superevilmegacorp.com/news/patch-notes-shell-squad-co-op-update/
10. DNYUZ, TMNT Splintered Fate drops massive co-op update for free: https://dnyuz.com/2026/11/10/tmnt-splintered-fate-drops-massive-co-op-update-for-free/
11. Steam Remote Play (archived Oct 10, 2026): https://web.archive.org/web/20261010113511/https://store.steampowered.com/remoteplay