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Yes—both players need an active PlayStation Plus subscription to play It Takes Two online on PS4 or PS5. That requirement applies even when one player joins through Friend’s Pass instead of buying the full game. The exception is local couch co-op on one console: EA says that mode works offline and needs neither an internet connection nor PlayStation Plus. PS4 and PS5 can also play together across generations, but that is still an online session, so each player needs PS Plus.
The key is to separate three things: where you are playing (online or on one console), who owns the full game, and whether each account has PS Plus. The combinations below show exactly what is required.
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At a glance: which setup are you using?
| Setup | Full game ownership | PlayStation Plus | Internet | Host rule | Console combination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online co-op, both own the game | Both players own It Takes Two | Required for both players | Required | Either player can host the session | PS4, PS5, or PS4 with PS5 |
| Online co-op with Friend’s Pass | One player owns the full game; the other uses Friend’s Pass | Required for both players | Required | Only the full-game owner can host | PS4, PS5, or PS4 with PS5 |
| Couch co-op | One copy on the console is enough | Not required | Not required | Both people play on the same console | One PS4 or one PS5 |
The PlayStation game listing specifies support for up to two online players and marks PlayStation Plus as required for online play. EA’s FAQ separately confirms that both online players need a subscription and that couch co-op does not require an internet connection.
Do both players need PS Plus for online It Takes Two?
Yes. For any online co-op session on PS4 or PS5, the two participating players must each have an active PlayStation Plus subscription. It is not enough for only the person who owns the game, creates the session, or sends the invitation to have PS Plus.
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EA states this directly in its official It Takes Two FAQ: “Yes, both players will need a PlayStation Plus subscription to play together online.” The PlayStation game page carries the same requirement and lists online play for up to two players.
That rule is about access to online multiplayer, not about ownership of the software. A player can own the game and still be unable to join an online session if that player’s PS Plus subscription is inactive. Conversely, having PS Plus does not provide the game itself; the ownership and Friend’s Pass rules still apply.
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Yes. Friend’s Pass lets the second player download a companion version and join a session without purchasing the full game. However, it does not remove the online-subscription requirement: both players still need PS Plus.
The full-game owner must host when Friend’s Pass is involved. EA’s FAQ explains that only the player who owns It Takes Two can host their own games. The Friend’s Pass player can therefore join the owner’s online session, but cannot reverse the arrangement by hosting for the owner.
This makes Friend’s Pass a way to avoid a second full-game purchase, not a way to avoid PlayStation’s online-access requirement. Before starting, check both players’ PS Plus status, install the appropriate game or Friend’s Pass version, and make sure the owner is the person who starts the online co-op session.
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Does Friend’s Pass include online multiplayer without PS Plus?
No. Friend’s Pass changes the game-ownership requirement for the invited player; it does not grant an exemption from PS Plus. If the two of you are playing over the internet, each player still needs an active subscription, including the player using Friend’s Pass.
Think of the requirements as two separate gates. Friend’s Pass can open the gate that says “you do not need to buy the full game,” while PS Plus opens the gate for online console multiplayer. Both gates must be satisfied for a Friend’s Pass session to work.
Can two people play It Takes Two offline on one console?
Yes. Couch co-op is the offline alternative, and EA says no internet connection is required. Because the session is local on a single console, neither player needs PlayStation Plus.
This setup is different from using two consoles in the same home. Two separate consoles still use online co-op, even if they are connected to the same household network, so the online requirement applies to both players. To avoid PS Plus entirely, use one PS4 or one PS5 and play together on that console’s local setup.
Local play also avoids the Friend’s Pass hosting issue because both people are sharing the same console session. The online ownership and subscription checks described above apply when players are connecting from separate consoles.
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Can a PS4 player play with a PS5 player?
Yes. PlayStation’s FAQ describes cross-generation play between PS4 and PS5 within the PlayStation family. A mixed PS4/PS5 pair can therefore play together online, provided the online requirements are met.
Cross-generation compatibility does not change the PS Plus rule. Because the players are using an online session, both still need PS Plus. It also does not change the Friend’s Pass host rule: when only one player owns the full game, that owner must host regardless of whether the consoles are both PS4, both PS5, or one of each.
For a mixed-generation session, verify the same three items as any other online setup: the owner has the full game, the joining player has the game or Friend’s Pass as appropriate, and both accounts have active PS Plus subscriptions.
How do you set up each way to play?
Start by deciding whether you want an online session on separate consoles or local couch co-op on one console. Then use the checklist for that arrangement.
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Online co-op when both players own the game
- Confirm the platform combination. Both players can use PS4, both can use PS5, or one can use each generation.
- Confirm two active PS Plus subscriptions. The requirement applies to both participants, not just the host.
- Install the full game for each owner. Ownership of the game and PS Plus are separate checks.
- Open the online co-op option. Use the game’s online session flow to create or join a game.
- Invite the other player and start the session. If the invitation fails, recheck PS Plus status on both accounts before changing game-ownership settings.
Online co-op when only one player owns the game
- Choose the host first. The player with the full game must host the session.
- Check PS Plus for both players. Friend’s Pass does not waive this requirement.
- Have the second player download Friend’s Pass. This avoids buying a second full copy.
- Have the owner launch the online co-op session. The Friend’s Pass player joins the owner rather than hosting.
- Use the game’s invitation flow to connect. If the joiner cannot connect, verify that the owner—not the Friend’s Pass player—is attempting to host and that both subscriptions are active.
Couch co-op on one console
- Use a single PS4 or PS5. Two consoles would turn this into online co-op.
- Prepare both local controllers and players. The defining feature is that both people play on the same console.
- Start the couch-co-op option. EA says an internet connection is not required.
- Do not purchase PS Plus solely for this mode. Local couch co-op does not require it.
What is the difference between game ownership and PS Plus?
Game ownership answers “who is allowed to access the game?” PlayStation Plus answers “who is allowed to use online console multiplayer?” They overlap in an online session but are not interchangeable.
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- Both own the full game: each player still needs PS Plus for online co-op.
- One owns the full game: the other can use Friend’s Pass, but both still need PS Plus and the owner must host.
- One-console couch co-op: no online connection is involved, so PS Plus is not needed.
This distinction explains why buying a second copy does not solve an expired subscription, and why subscribing to PS Plus does not substitute for the full game or Friend’s Pass.
Why might an online session fail even when one player has PS Plus?
The most common mismatch is checking only the host’s subscription. The official requirement is for both online players, so confirm the status of the joining player as well.
Next, identify which ownership arrangement you are using. If one person relies on Friend’s Pass, the full-game owner must be the host. If the Friend’s Pass player attempts to host, the arrangement does not match EA’s stated rule.
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Finally, check whether you accidentally selected the wrong play mode. A local couch session requires one console and no internet; a two-console session is online and therefore requires PS Plus for both players. For PS4-and-PS5 pairs, cross-generation play is supported, but the same online checks remain in force.
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- Are you on one console? Choose couch co-op; no PS Plus or internet connection is required.
- Are you on separate consoles? Treat the session as online co-op; both players need PS Plus.
- Does each player own the full game? If yes, either player can host the normal online session.
- Does only one player own it? Install Friend’s Pass for the other player, keep PS Plus active for both, and have the owner host.
- Are the consoles different generations? PS4 and PS5 can play together online, with the same two-subscription requirement.
PlayStation lists It Takes Two as supporting up to two online players. That limit means the game is designed for a pair, not a larger online group, so adding extra accounts or consoles will not create a third online slot.
What is the definitive answer?
For online It Takes Two on PS4 or PS5, yes: both players need PS Plus. Friend’s Pass can spare the second player a full-game purchase, but it does not change that subscription rule, and only the full-game owner can host. If you want to play without PS Plus or an internet connection, use couch co-op on one console instead.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play It Takes Two online if only my friend has PS Plus?
No. The online requirement applies to both players, so the player joining the session also needs an active PlayStation Plus subscription. This remains true whether the joining player owns the full game or uses Friend’s Pass.
Does Friend’s Pass let the invited player host the game?
No. EA’s rule is that only the person who owns the full game can host their own games. The Friend’s Pass player can join the owner’s online session but should not be the host.
Can PS4 and PS5 versions play together without buying two copies?
PS4 and PS5 support cross-generation play, so a mixed-generation pair can join the same online session. Whether one full copy is enough depends on using Friend’s Pass, but both players still need PS Plus for that online session.
How many people can play It Takes Two online at once?
PlayStation’s product listing specifies support for up to two online players. The game is built for a two-person co-op session rather than a larger online party.
