Can 2 People Play the Same Game while Game Sharing PS4?
Game sharing on the PlayStation 4 (PS4) allows users to share their digital game library with friends and family. When it comes to playing the same game multiple times, there are some limitations, but it is possible for two people to play the same game while game sharing on the PS4. In this article, we will explore this topic in detail, discussing both the possibilities and limitations of game sharing on the PS4.
Sharing Digital Games on PS4
To explain how game sharing works on the PS4, let’s first discuss how digital game shares work. When you purchase a game digitally, it is stored on Sony’s servers and can be downloaded by multiple devices connected to your gaming account. This means that you can have different devices, such as the PS4, PS4 Pro, PS5, and even the PlayStation Classic, connected to your gaming account and allow you to play the same game without having to purchase it multiple times. It’s like having multiple simultaneous subscriptions to the same streaming service, similar to how you can have multiple Netflix screens running at the same time.
Why Can’t You Play Simultaneously?
One of the commonly asked questions about game sharing is that after setting up game sharing, do both users have to take turns playing the game, or can only the owner play the game at all times? The answer is that you can play the same game using game sharing, but only up to a certain extent. While, as mentioned earlier, multiple games can be downloaded on multiple devices connected to one gaming account, it is still ultimately limited to one player per game played at a time.
This limitation isn’t due to the PS4 hardware itself, but rather a control measure implemented by Sony to prevent exploits and ensure that games licenses are not shared among multiple users freely. In essence, each installed game is tied to a specific account tied to a specific console, meaning as long as the owner’s credentials are entered, the game is still officially "owned" by the primary game sharer. When you transfer ownership, you need access to the original owner’s credentials once more to continue playing.
Alternative Solutions
However, if you want to play the same game, at the same time with another person, another solution is available. According to Sony, if the co-op game is a downloadable PlayStation Store title, it is essentially possible to play co-op splitscreen on both PS4 as well as PS5 (albeit with a PS4 connection) with the same account and respective consoles. This can be more of a social, entertainment benefit than a gaming competition experience.
How to Game Share on PS4
To game share with your friends and family on the PS4, follow these steps:
- Head to the Settings menu -> Account Management -> Account Information -> Other Management -> Share of Private Game
- A new window will pop up. Find the game you want to share, move the slider to Enabled, save changes, and Activate Friend’s PS4 manually on the friend’s PS4
- Both devices shall be connected to the same Internet source for seamless access and the second PS4 can start browsing and playing games using your user ID
Key Points about Game Sharing on PS4
• Share your digital games with friends by setting up game sharing
• Can stream games to another PS console using Share Play
• Control measures prevent sharing game credits among multiple users
• You can only initiate a game share, the final recipient must also own/access the game
Security and Limitations
• **Limit of maximum 2 consoles**: PS4 enables you to share your digital contents with one other console (max. primary and secondary PS4), enabling two people to play on one **shared game**
In this case, it means multiple games can be played at once or different games by each in turn
Note both PS4 devices connected might need to be logged into identical user accounts for accessLet’s summarize this for your interest.