Game Sharing on PS5 and Xbox Explained
Both platforms allow one purchase to cover two consoles. The mechanisms differ and one is much less obvious.
The short answer
Both PlayStation and Xbox allow a digital purchase to be played on a second console through a designation system, with PlayStation using Console Sharing and Offline Play and Xbox using the Home Xbox setting. On both platforms the designated console can play the library while signed into any account, and the purchasing account can play elsewhere while signed in. Changing the designation is limited in frequency, which is the constraint most people encounter.
Verified and last updated August 12, 2026.
- Time needed
- 11 min
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Read time
- 3 min
Both consoles let one purchase cover two machines. It is a deliberate feature on both, documented and supported, and most people either do not know it exists or half-remember something about it being risky.
Within a household it is neither risky nor obscure. Between strangers it is a bad idea for reasons that have nothing to do with the rules.
The genuine difference from PC
Unlike Steam sharing, both consoles allow two people to play the same title simultaneously. That is what makes this worth setting up.
How each platform does it
The mechanism is the same on both. You designate one console as the primary for your account. That console can play your digital library under any local account, while you can still play your own games on any other console when signed in personally.
Setting it up on PS5
Sign into your account on the second console. Open Settings, Users and Accounts, Other, then Console Sharing and Offline Play, and enable it.
That console is now your designated one. Your household can play your digital library there without your account being signed in.
Setting it up on Xbox
Sign in on the second console, open Settings, General, Personalisation, and select Make This My Home Xbox.
The limit on changes per year is the thing to be aware of. It is a small number, it is enforced strictly, and there is no appeal. Decide properly rather than experimenting.
What carries across and what does not
Subscriptions generally extend to the designated console for local users, which is a large part of the value. Game Pass or PlayStation Plus purchased by one account typically covers the household on that machine.
Physical discs do not participate in any of this. The disc must be in the console being played on, which is one of the practical arguments for digital in a two-console household. The disc versus digital guide covers that trade properly.
Do not arrange this with strangers
It requires sharing account credentials, which hands over your purchase history, payment methods and the ability to lock you out. The feature is designed for households.
Steam's equivalent works differently and is more restrictive, notably in not allowing simultaneous play of the same title.
What works
What doesn't
Key takeaways
Frequently asked questions
Is game sharing allowed?
Both platforms provide the feature deliberately and document it, so using it as intended within a household is entirely legitimate. What sits outside the intent is arranging it with strangers online, which also carries a real account security risk since it requires sharing credentials. Within a family or household, it is a supported feature.
How often can I change my Home Xbox?
Microsoft limits changes to a small number per year, which is the main practical constraint. This prevents rotating the designation among many consoles and means the decision deserves some thought. Once the limit is reached you wait until the period resets, with no way to appeal it.
Can two people play the same game at once?
Yes on both platforms, which is the significant difference from Steam's approach. The designated console can run the game under any local account while the purchasing account plays the same title elsewhere. This makes console sharing genuinely more useful than PC library sharing for households.
Does sharing give access to my subscription?
Generally yes for the designated console, which is a substantial part of the value. A Game Pass or PlayStation Plus subscription tied to the purchasing account typically extends to the designated console for local users. The specifics vary by subscription tier, so check the current terms before relying on it.
About the author
Competitive & Settings Editor
Dan played CS:GO semi-professionally in a regional ESEA Main roster between 2017 and 2020, and has hit Radiant in VALORANT in three separate acts. He now spends most of his competitive energy on the unglamorous side of the game: input latency, sensitivity consistency and warm-up routines that actually transfer.
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