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Building a digital game library is a big investment. But unlike a physical disc, you can't just hand a digital game to a friend. Or can you? Most major platforms have built-in systems that let you share your library with trusted family and friends, saving everyone money.

This guide will show you how to set up game sharing on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation. It's important to remember that these systems are built on trust and should only be used with people you know well.

Sharing on Steam with Steam Families

Steam's sharing feature, called Steam Families, allows you to create a group of up to six members. When you join a Family, you gain access to the shareable games owned by other members, and they can play yours.

How it works:

One Library: All shareable games from all members appear in a single 'family library' section in each person's Steam client.
Play Simultaneously: Multiple members can play different games from the family library at the same time. If the library has two copies of a game, two people can play it at once.
Separate Saves: Each member has their own saved games, achievements, and workshop content for any game they play from the library.
Parental Controls: The system includes robust parental controls, allowing adults to limit playtime and restrict access to certain games for child accounts.

To set it up, go to your Steam client's settings, find the 'Family' tab, and create or join a Steam Family.

Sharing on Xbox with 'My Home Xbox'

The Xbox sharing system is tied to a single console that you designate as your 'Home Xbox'. Any other account on that specific console can play your digital games and use your Game Pass subscription, even when you're not signed in.

Here's the setup:

Log into the Xbox console you want to share with (e.g., your family's living room console) using your own account.
Press the Xbox button, then go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization.
Select My home Xbox.
Select Make this my home Xbox to designate the console as your home machine.

Now, anyone who logs into that console with their own profile can play your games. You can still log in and play your games on any other Xbox (like one in your own room), but you will need an internet connection to do so.

Sharing on PlayStation with 'Console Sharing and Offline Play'

PlayStation's system works very similarly to Xbox's. You designate one PS5 or PS4 as your primary console, and anyone who uses it can play your games.

To set it up on a PS5:

Log into the PS5 console you want to share with using your own account.
Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other.
Select Console Sharing and Offline Play.
Select Enable. If it already says 'Disable', that means the feature is already active on this console.

Just like with Xbox, any other user on that PS5 can now play your digital games from their own account. You can log into any other PS5 to play your games, but you'll need to be connected to the internet.

FAQ

Can my friend and I play the same game at the same time?

Generally, no. With the Xbox and PlayStation methods, if you own one digital copy, only one person can play it at a time. Steam Families is more flexible; if multiple people in the family own the same game, that many people can play it simultaneously.

Can I get in trouble for doing this?

No, these are official features designed by the platform holders. However, they are intended for use within a household. Sharing account passwords with strangers to share games is a violation of the terms of service and a major security risk.

What about DLC and subscriptions?

On Xbox and PlayStation, your subscriptions (like Game Pass Ultimate or PlayStation Plus Extra) are also shared on your home/primary console. DLC for games you own is typically shared as well.

Key Takeaways

Use Steam Families to create a shared library for up to six Steam accounts.
On Xbox, designate a console as your 'Home Xbox' to let anyone on that machine play your games.
On PlayStation, enable 'Console Sharing and Offline Play' on one console for the same effect.
These features also share subscriptions like Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.
Only use these sharing features with people you know and trust completely.

How to Share Your Digital Game Library with Family and Friends