You and your best friend are deep into a game of Final Fantasy 14, which you haven't played before on the PS5. Six hours pass, and you're hooked. You need this game for your own PlayStation console. Can your friend share it?
Asurion Experts take care of your favorite home tech devices. Whether you're wondering how to play your PS5 online or protect your online gaming accounts, count on us for straightforward guidance. Here's how to game share on PS5 with friends and family.
Prepare to game share safely
PlayStation has a very useful feature you may not be taking advantage of—game sharing. When enabled, it allows you to share downloaded PS5 games between two consoles. You and the other PS5 owner can play each other's titles and save progress.
You can enable the game share feature between two PS5 devices at a time. If you decide you want to game share with someone else's console, you must disable other existing connections first.
Game sharing allows others to view your PlayStation Network account information, including payment details. For this reason, it's important to only game share with people you trust, such as family and close friends.
Set up Console Sharing and Offline Play
PlayStation automatically turns on console sharing for new devices. But if you're not sure whether it's on, follow these steps to enable game share on PS5. This will be the host device, and games downloaded to it will be accessible on it and the second PS5.
- Open Settings.
- Select Users and Accounts > Other.
- Select Console Sharing and Offline Play.
- Select Enable.
Download shared games on the second PS5
Ask the owner of the shared PS5 console to log into their account on your console. To add them as a user, do the following:
- Press the PS button to open the Control Center.
- Select Switch User > Add User.
- Enter the other user's login details.
- Select Sign in.
Once signed in, the games on the host PS5 console appear in the Game Library. Select the Your Collection tab to view available titles and download the ones you want to play.
Use your own account to play shared games
When you're finished downloading games, switch to your PlayStation account. The new titles should appear in your Game Library. You can play them as if they were your own, and PlayStation saves your trophies and progress. Games stay in your library unless the owner of the PS5 logs out of their account on your console or disables console sharing on their device.
How subscriptions like PS Plus or Game Catalog work
Enabling PS5 sharing with another PS5 doesn't give you access to the host account's PlayStation Plus benefits. It only lets you play downloaded titles that they own.
However, if the connection is between a host PS5 and a console the account owner designates as their primary PS4, you may get a few perks. Those include:
- Online multiplayer features
- Use of downloaded games bought with a PlayStation Plus discount or included with Monthly Plus
- Access to PlayStation Plus classic and game catalog titles
However, there are a few restrictions. You can't use the account holder's online storage or buy titles using their PlayStation Plus account. You also don't get access to game trials or auto-patch downloads.
In short:
- Game sharing between two PS5s = No PlayStation Plus benefits.
- Game sharing between a PS5 and a PS4 may provide limited PlayStation Plus benefits.
Limitations and things to keep in mind
- PlayStation 5 only supports game sharing between one account and another console. You can't connect multiple consoles with the same PS5.
- If you want to enable game sharing for co-op or multiplayer games, then players may need to purchase their own copy to participate.
- When you share games on PS5, it only includes downloaded titles. If you want to share a physical copy of a game you own, you have to give the borrower the disc. When it's in their possession, you won't be able to play it (unless you're using the same console).
- PlayStation may restrict your Console Sharing capabilities if you change your settings too frequently. To avoid misuse, be conscientious of who you share your games and account information with.
FAQ
What is "Console Sharing and Offline Play"?
Console Sharing and Offline Play is a PlayStation feature that allows a PS5 owner to share downloaded titles with another gaming console. It's useful for close friends and family members who live in separate households.
How many people can I game share with at once?
You can game share with one other person from your PlayStation account.
Does game sharing work both ways?
Game sharing is a one-way deal. The host console's games are accessible in the Game Library, but they can't play titles that only you own.
