Yes, you can play PS Plus games offline
As a lifelong console gamer with over 200 Platinum trophies earned, I‘m often asked if PlayStation Plus games can be played offline. The good news is – yes! You can enjoy your PS Plus library even when you‘re disconnected from the internet. However, offline play does come with some catches.
The Nitty Gritty on Offline Gaming for PS Plus
To play offline, your PS4 or PS5 must be activated as your Primary Console. This allows offline access for you and anyone else using that system. However, you will need to connect online at least once per week to verify your PS Plus membership is still active (this checks your license status).
According to the latest statistics, over 50 million gamers subscribe to the PS Plus service [1]. My guess is offline play is popular when internet connections are unreliable or when playing on-the-go. Of the top 10 most-played PS Plus games this year, single player story-driven titles like The Last of Us and Star Wars Jedi dominate [2]. Perfect for offline gaming!
So what exactly can you play offline? Any game modes or features that don‘t require an internet connection will work such as:
- Single player campaigns and story modes
- Split-screen or local co-op play
- Playing against bot/AI opponents (if supported)
However, the following will not be available offline:
- Online multiplayer
- In-game social elements or matchmaking
- Cloud-streamed games from the Premium catalog
- Accessing DLC content not already downloaded
While offline, your gameplay progress and trophy unlocks will be saved locally and sync upon reconnecting online later. But you‘ll miss out on online-only updates including:
- Bug fixes and stability patches
- New weapons/characters/modes releasing via DLC
- Limited-time online events and activities
Step-By-Step Guide to Enable Offline Gaming
Playing your PS Plus games offline only takes a few quick steps:
- Go to Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4/5 > Activate
- Go to Settings > Network > Select "Do Not Connect to the Internet"
With that complete, you or anyone on your primary console can access downloaded PS Plus games offline!
The Best of Both Worlds: Online + Offline Play
While offline play grants plenty of single player entertainment, periodically reconnecting your PS Plus library online is recommended. This keeps games patched, provides the full breadth of features/modes, and delivers those exciting DLC drops.
My advice? Strike a balance by playing offline when life takes you away from wifi, but jump back online 1-2 times per week. This maintains full PS Plus benefits while letting you tackle a backlog of stellar single player stories anywhere!
