Can You Share PS Plus With More Than 2 People? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: no, you cannot directly share PlayStation Plus benefits with more than two people simultaneously. While PlayStation Network offers features like Console Sharing and Offline Play and Share Play, these are designed for a maximum of two users at a time. The system is structured around a primary account that shares its benefits with other users on the same primary console, and a limited two-person Share Play functionality.
Let’s dive deeper into why and explore all the sharing options you have with PlayStation Plus.
Understanding PlayStation Plus Sharing Limitations
PlayStation Plus is designed to be primarily tied to a single account. This account can share certain benefits with other accounts under specific circumstances:
Console Sharing and Offline Play on PS5 and Primary PS4
- Primary Console Sharing: On a PS5, or your designated primary PS4, the PS Plus account can grant access to all the benefits to other accounts on that console. This includes the ability to play online multiplayer, access free games, and use cloud saves.
- One Primary Console: Crucially, this sharing is only for one primary console at a time. You can designate one PS5 or one PS4 as your primary console, and the PS Plus benefits of your account extend to all users logged in on that single console.
- Limited to One Console: If you have a second console (either a PS5 or PS4), you would need another PS Plus subscription for it to have full access to online multiplayer features and other benefits.
- Simultaneous Account Access: You can’t log in with the same account simultaneously on two consoles. Attempting to do so will log you out of the first one. Your account can only be active on one system at any given time.
Share Play Limitations
- Two-Person Limit: The Share Play feature is designed for a one-on-one experience with another user. You, as the host, can invite another player to either watch you play, play collaboratively in local multiplayer (even if the game doesn’t officially support it), or even hand over controller control to the other player.
- PS Plus for Host: Only the host needs a PlayStation Plus membership to initiate a Share Play session.
- Temporary Session: Share Play sessions are limited to a maximum of one hour. After this time, the session will automatically end. You can then start another Share Play session if desired.
- Multiplayer Limitations: For multiplayer games played during Share Play, both players need a PlayStation Plus subscription.
Family Accounts and Child Members
- Family Manager: PlayStation Network allows you to create family accounts. The family manager can share funds with child accounts and control spending limits.
- Child Subscriptions: Child members can also subscribe to PlayStation Plus using funds from their family manager’s wallet. This does not allow cross-console sharing of the subscription to other family members. It is still tied to that individual child’s account on that single primary console.
Why You Can’t Share With More Than Two
The PlayStation Network infrastructure and licensing agreements are set up to limit the sharing of games and benefits. It is designed to prevent wide-scale sharing with large numbers of people that would otherwise require multiple purchases of games and subscriptions.
While the ability to share games and PS Plus with another person is beneficial, unrestricted access for multiple users was never Sony’s intention.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into PS Plus Sharing
Here are some frequently asked questions to address common concerns and provide more information about sharing PS Plus:
Can I have 2 PS5s with the same account?
No, you can’t log in to the same account simultaneously on two PS5 consoles. You will get logged out on the other console. However, a second account on the second console can still use games and play online if the PS5 is set as your primary console for that account.
Is there a PlayStation Plus family plan?
There isn’t a dedicated PlayStation Plus family plan that allows one subscription to cover multiple unrelated accounts or consoles. However, child members can subscribe using funds from the family manager’s wallet, and the family manager account can share the PS Plus benefits to other accounts on the designated primary console.
How many people can I share my PS5 account with?
You can share your game library with other people on your primary PS5 console. However, you can only do so with one other person at a time per console. Gamesharing on a secondary console would require them to be logged into your account. You can’t share your game library across multiple PS5 consoles concurrently.
How to share PS Plus across all accounts (PS4/PS5)?
You cannot share PlayStation Plus across multiple consoles. You can only share PS Plus benefits with other users on your one designated primary PS4 or PS5 console. Every other console will need its own PS Plus account.
How many users can use the same PS Plus?
Only one PSN account can have a PlayStation Plus subscription, but users on the same designated primary console can use those PS Plus benefits.
Can you Shareplay with 3 people?
No, Share Play is limited to two players – the host and one visitor. Both will still need their own PSN accounts and potentially PS Plus subscriptions.
How many accounts can share PS Plus?
The PlayStation Plus subscription is tied to one account. However, other sub-accounts or user accounts on that account’s primary console can share those benefits. Non-sub accounts on other consoles cannot utilize these benefits.
How do I share my PS Plus with multiple accounts?
The PS Plus account must be the primary account for that console. Once it is set as primary, other user accounts can access all its benefits. This is only true for the primary console, it cannot be shared with multiple consoles.
Can I share PS Plus extra with another account?
Unfortunately, if you have more than one PS4 or PS5, you’ll need another account with PS Plus for each extra console. Benefits can only be shared from the primary account to other accounts on the same console.
Can two Playstations use the same account at the same time?
No, Once you sign into your account on a second PS4 or PS5, you will get signed out on the first. Your account can only ever be signed into one PlayStation at a time.
Can you share play with 3 people on PlayStation?
No, you can use Share Play with only one visitor at a time, and both will still need their own PSN accounts. If playing a multiplayer game, both users will need PlayStation Plus.
Can you game share with 3 people on PS4?
Not directly. Game sharing, via primary console benefits, is tied to your specific primary PS4 or PS5. Other accounts on that one console benefit from games bought by the primary account. This does not apply to a second or third console, where they would have to buy the game separately or be signed in to your account.
Is there a limit to share play on PS4?
Yes, Share Play sessions have a time limit of one hour. After the hour is up, the session will end automatically, but it can be restarted.
How many people can console share?
You can gameshare on PS5 with one other person at a time on that specific console, not across multiple consoles.
Can you Gameshare with more than one person?
No, you can only share your games with one person per console via the primary console feature.
Conclusion: Limited Sharing, Focused Experience
While PlayStation Plus offers valuable sharing features, they are limited to a maximum of two individuals at any given time. While the concept of sharing PlayStation Plus with more than 2 people may be appealing, especially for larger groups, the system is structured around individual accounts and a one-console benefit system.
Understanding these limitations will help you maximize your PlayStation Plus experience within the available framework. By leveraging Console Sharing and Share Play, you can enhance your gaming experience with friends and family, but be aware of the restriction to two people at a time. Remember that every additional console will require another PlayStation account and PlayStation Plus subscription to access online gaming benefits.