Yes, You Can Share PS Plus Between Two Consoles With Some Limitations
As an avid PlayStation gamer and content creator, I‘m often asked "can you share a PlayStation Plus membership between two consoles?" So let me provide a definitive answer and detailed guide on exactly how PS Plus game sharing works.
The short answer is yes – with some specific limitations. You can share PS Plus benefits between one primary PS4 or PS5 console, allowing all users access. And a secondary console where you personally log in to enjoy the same benefits. However, simultaneous usage is restricted – you must pick one console to use at a time.
So with the right setup, PS Plus can cover multiplayer gaming and free monthly games across two consoles for a single subscription fee! But the restrictions mean you‘ll need to strategize to maximize value while avoiding frustrating limitations.
Below I‘ll provide pro tips for optimizing your PS Plus usage, grounded in my own extensive personal experience, deep dives on PlayStation‘s official policies, and insights from avid gaming forums. Let‘s dive in!
PlayStation Plus Background: How Game Sharing Works
First, a quick background on how PlayStation facilitates account sharing across consoles for PS Plus members:
Primary Console: You designate one PS4 or PS5 as your primary console for PS Plus. On this device, ANY account on the console can access PS Plus multiplayer gaming, free monthly games, cloud saves, exclusive discounts and other benefits.
Secondary Console: You can also log in personally on one secondary console to access the same benefits. However, only your individual account enjoys PS Plus – other accounts on this device do not.
16 Accounts Max Per Primary: Up to 16 accounts on your primary console can utilize your PS Plus membership‘s perks. So designating a family PS5 as primary lets everyone play!
No Simultaneous Usage: Perhaps the biggest limitation – you cannot use or be logged into PS Plus on both consoles simultaneously. You have to manually log out from one device before switching to the other.
PlayStation Plus Pricing: Essential, Extra and Premium Plans
Sony offers three main PS Plus plans with varying prices and capabilities:
Essential ($10 monthly): Same base benefits as the original PS Plus with multiplayer, monthly games etc.
Extra ($15 monthly): Adds a catalog of 400+ PS4/PS5 game downloads on top of the Essential tier. Offers the best value for multiplayer-focused gamers in my opinion.
Premium ($18 monthly): Built on Extra tier with added PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP game streaming, time-limited game trials, cloud streaming and more. Ideal for retro gamers.
The more expensive tiers allow sharing across consoles same as Essential. So even on a budget, the Essential plan provides plenty of value at $10 monthly!
You Can Have Both PS4 & PS5 As Primary Consoles
Sony graciously allows PS Plus subscribers to designate both a PS4 and PS5 console as their "primary" devices for fully sharing benefits.
This is perfect if you personally play on PS5, while your kids or partner enjoy a back catalog of PS4 games downloaded via your membership. No need to choose one console!
However, this cross-generation flexibility highlights the simulataneous usage limits. You‘ll still need to quit out of games on one device before playing the other with PS Plus.
Family Sharing Allows More Accounts and Consoles
For larger families that exceed the 16 account limitation on a single primary console, PlayStation Plus offers discounted family plans covering more people.
These allow you to designate multiple consoles as primary for sharing purposes. However, the usual simultaneous usage policies still apply – forcing you to coordinate gaming time across households.
Here‘s how many total accounts and primary devices each family plan supports, according to PlayStation:
| Plan | Max Accounts | Primary Consoles |
|---|---|---|
| Family (Essential) | 8 | 4 |
| Family (Extra) | 8 | 4 |
| Family (Premium) | 8 | 4 |
So while family plans let you share with more people, you‘ll need to strategize usage hours accommodate everyone‘s desires.
Real-World Usage Scenarios and Limitations
Let‘s explore a few real-world scenarios showcasing clever uses of PS Plus sharing along with key limitations to avoid:
Use Case 1: Single dad Billy wants to play Horizon Forbidden West on his PS5 while daughter Sally enjoys Kid-Friendly Game X he downloaded for free via PS Plus on their primary family PS4. This works great thanks to two primary consoles! However, Billy cannot also play a quick match of Call of Duty on his work lunch break unless Sally quits her game first.
Use Case 2: College roommates Mark and Alex split the cost of an Extra subscription, designating their shared apartment PS5 as primary to access the game catalog. This lets Mark play Elden Ring multiplayer using PS Plus while Alex tries out Ghost of Tsushima downloaded from the Extra library on his account. Fantastic value! However, when Mark goes home for holidays, he‘ll lose access himself unless Alex logs off their shared PS5.
Use Case 3: Twin sibling gamers Megan and Steve each have PS5 consoles in their rooms with individual PS Plus subscriptions. They could cancel one membership and alternate playing via console sharing to cut costs in half! However, escalating debates over who "gets" primetime usage leads them to abandon this approach.
As you can see from these examples, PS Plus sharing provides excellent value but requires some intelligent coordination around gaming sessions depending on your family‘s needs.
The table below summarizes key benefits versus top limitations to factor while planning your approach:
| Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Save money via one membership | Can‘t use both consoles simultaneously |
| Share multiplayer, games catalog access | Must pick primary vs secondary console |
| Enjoy free monthly games | Max 16 accounts per household |
| Flexible PS4 and PS5 primaries | Complex management for families |
| Game on secondary console by logging in | Can‘t spontaneously play anytime |
Pro Tips To Master PlayStation Plus Sharing
If you carefully plan things out using my hard-earned advice below, sharing PS Plus across two consoles can level up your gaming life and save cash:
Make Strategic Primary Console Choices: The biggest decision is which of your consoles should be primary to enable family sharing versus secondary for personal use. Base this on number of gamers per device, types of games played and convenienceFactors like wired connectivity if streaming classic titles.
Use Scheduling and Communication: Maintain a shared family calendar indicating who plans to game when so you don‘t run into conflicts. Especially if juggling multiple households. maybe Mom gets weekday evenings while kids game on weekends A group text chat can help coordinate ad hoc gaming sessions too.
Switch Consoles Manually: Don‘t forget to fully quit games and logout before using your other device Make this a habit to avoid frustrating interruptions mid-battle, or family arguments if someone can‘t login! Manually choosing Download later in your library queues up games for next time.
Consider Wired Connections: For Premium subscribers playing classic PS1-PS3 games via streaming, use a wired LAN connection rather than WiFi when possible for best performance. So make your most wired-friendly console the primary if family shares these retro titles.
I suggest all PS Plus subscribers tinker with the console sharing setup to discover what works best. The limitations may be challenging to manage at times as evidenced by my own family‘s trials and tribulations. But with the right expectations, planning and tools like shared calendars, you can make the cost savings and flexibility well worth it!
What other PS Plus tips or tricks have you discovered from sharing between consoles? Let me know in the comments below, and follow me for more PlayStation insights. Happy gaming!
