Resident Evil 2 remake mod HUNK'y Friend adds local co-op

• The mod is credited to Nexus Mods creator Shopcreeper01 and was previously known as HUNK'y Friend.
• Available descriptions mention shared-screen, split-screen and an AI companion as play options.

What happened

According to the mod description, a new PC mod for Resident Evil 2 Remake has appeared that makes Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield's campaign playable with two players. The mod is linked to Shopcreeper01 and the name HUNK'y Friend. In the supplied context, the mod is also referred to as Local Couch Co-op, with HUNK'y Friend listed as its former name.

The description says Player 2 is fully controllable and can play as HUNK or as one of several other characters. It also claims both players have their own aiming, inventory, weapons, pickups, HUD elements and a flashlight. That means the mod is not just adding an extra camera or passive helper, but, according to the description, a second fully playable role in the campaign.

The mod also lists several modes: shared-screen, split-screen and an AI-controlled companion for solo players. Players can trade supplies and revive each other after being knocked down; if both characters are taken out, the run ends, according to the description. External context also says the mod supports the fixed-camera style from alphaZomega's fixed-camera mod, suggesting the creator has expanded it with additional configurations.

The available descriptions also say a second player can accompany Leon or Claire, or in some cases be used as HUNK or one of 14 other characters. The supplied source context does not name all of those extra characters, but it does confirm that the mod goes beyond HUNK alone. The context also says the mod is available via Nexus Mods and that Shopcreeper01 launched the feature on October 4 and expanded it further on October 5.

Resident Evil 2 Remake launched in 2019 for PC and consoles. Leon's and Claire's campaigns were originally designed as single-player experiences, so the co-op feature is a modding change rather than an official Capcom mode. The remake was released worldwide in January 2019 for PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One, placing the mod on top of a game version that was not built for local co-op.

Background

Resident Evil 2 Remake is Capcom's reimagining of the survival horror classic and follows Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield in Raccoon City. The game was released in 2019 and uses a single-player structure by default. The remake replaced the original's fixed cameras and tank controls with over-the-shoulder gameplay, while keeping Leon and Claire's separate campaigns as distinct playthroughs.

The mod descriptions name HUNK as a playable second character, alongside several other options. In the supplied context, Player 2 can play as HUNK or one of 14 other characters, though the exact names are not fully listed. Based on the supplied sources, it is also not confirmed which exact game version the mod works best with, whether the current release is fully stable, or whether all of the listed modes are already final rather than experimental.

The external context does say the mod is on Nexus Mods and that its description mentions a second player accompanying Leon or Claire on a shared screen, split screen or with fixed cameras. It also mentions an AI-controlled companion for solo players. That places the mod within a broader Resident Evil 2 Remake modding scene, where players alter Capcom's single-player structure with new camera setups, extra characters and co-op variants.

The available sources also confirm that the mod is maintained by Shopcreeper01 and that the name HUNK'y Friend has been replaced in the description by Local Couch Co-op. What remains unclear is whether the mod stays publicly available in the same form, which specific characters besides HUNK are playable, and whether there are any special installation requirements for the current release.