How Digital Game Sharing Works on PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

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Digital game sharing works differently on each platform: PS5 lets other users play purchases on one enabled console, Nintendo Switch offers Virtual Game Card sharing and limited family-group loans, and Switch 2 GameShare hosts a temporary session for compatible games. These options are not the same as transferring ownership or lending a digital license to any friend. Xbox has a Home Xbox feature, but its current setup and limits are not confirmed here.

First, choose what you mean by “sharing”

Sharing on one household console: Other profiles on that console can play eligible purchases linked to the owner’s account.
Lending to someone on another console: A platform may let an eligible borrower use a game temporarily, with account and time limits.
Sharing a play session: A guest joins a session hosted by the owner; this does not give the guest a lasting game license.

PlayStation and Nintendo provide distinct features for these cases. Do not treat them as interchangeable family-sharing systems.

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PlayStation 5: share purchases on one console

Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play

On the PS5 signed in to the purchasing account, open Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play.
Choose Enable. The first PS5 used to sign in is enabled automatically. To enable a different PS5, disable the feature on the previous one first.

Only one PS5 at a time can have Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled for an account. On that console, other users can play the owner’s downloaded games and media, including while offline, and can use some PlayStation Plus benefits. Subscription games still require an active subscription and continued availability. This setting is separate from the account’s console activation limits. See PlayStation’s Console Sharing and Offline Play guidance.

Use Share Play for a temporary session

Share Play invites one visitor to join a session. The visitor can play as the host, or play together with the host. The session ends one hour after the visitor joins, and some games or scenes may be restricted. The host needs PlayStation Plus; both players need it for the play-together mode. Share Play is a session, not a transfer of ownership or a general digital-game loan. Details are in PlayStation’s Share Play guidance.

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Nintendo Switch: move or lend Virtual Game Cards

Load a card for other users on a console

Nintendo represents digital purchases as Virtual Game Cards. An account can load them on up to two linked consoles and exchange cards between those consoles. When a card is loaded, other users on that console can play the game, and it can be played offline. On additional consoles, the account holder can play digital games while online, but other users on those consoles cannot play them. See Nintendo’s digital-purchase guidance.

Lend a card to a family-group member

A Virtual Game Card can be lent to a member of the owner’s Nintendo Account family group. The lending and borrowing consoles must be nearby and online to set up the loan. The borrower can hold one borrowed card at a time; the owner can lend up to three cards at a time. A loan returns automatically after 14 days, or sooner if returned or retrieved. The owner cannot play a card while it is lent, and some titles may not support lending. Nintendo also says: “When you lend a game, any DLC you have purchased is also lent.” See Nintendo’s Virtual Game Card Guide.

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Nintendo Switch 2: host a GameShare session

GameShare is different from lending a Virtual Game Card: a Switch 2 with supported software hosts a play session for guests. Local sessions can include original Nintendo Switch systems; online sessions require Switch 2 systems. Up to four systems can participate, and some games support only one connection method. Check the game’s compatibility before arranging a session. See Nintendo’s GameShare information.

Xbox: verify Home Xbox details with support

Xbox’s My Home Xbox support page identifies the relevant feature, but current setup steps, activation limits, and offline conditions are not established here. Check Xbox Support for the current instructions before changing account or console settings.

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If you want to lend a physical Nintendo game

A physical Nintendo Switch game card can be lent by handing over the card; the recipient inserts it into their console to play. That lends the physical copy, not a digital purchase. Nintendo’s physical game card instructions explain how to use one.