Yes, you can play PlayStation Plus games offline, but with some limitations; you need to have an active subscription and initially download the game.
Ever wondered if your downloaded PlayStation Plus games vanish when you’re without internet? It’s a valid concern, especially if you’re planning to game on the go. Many users ask, “can you play playstation plus games offline?”
The ability to play downloaded games offline provides flexibility. This lets you keep playing even when internet access is spotty. It’s great for travel and other times when connections aren’t possible.
Can You Play PlayStation Plus Games Offline?
Okay, let’s dive into the big question: can you play PlayStation Plus games offline? The simple answer is, well, it’s a bit complicated! It’s not a straight-up yes or no. It depends on the type of PlayStation Plus subscription you have and the specific game. Let’s explore this in detail, because knowing when you can play offline can make a big difference, especially if your internet connection isn’t always the best.
Understanding PlayStation Plus Tiers
First things first, let’s talk about the different kinds of PlayStation Plus memberships because they each have their own rules when it comes to playing offline. Sony offers three main levels: PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium. Each tier has different features, and that affects if you can enjoy your games when you’re not connected to the internet.
PlayStation Plus Essential
This is the most basic PlayStation Plus option. With Essential, you get:
- Monthly downloadable games: Usually, these are two to three games you can add to your library every month.
- Online multiplayer access: This lets you play games with others online.
- Exclusive discounts: You get special deals on games and add-ons in the PlayStation Store.
- Cloud saves: This backs up your game progress online.
The great news is that the monthly downloadable games you get with PlayStation Plus Essential can be played offline once you’ve downloaded them. You’ll need to connect to the internet to add them to your library initially, and they also require online verification now and again (more on that later), but after that initial download, most will work without an internet connection. This is handy if you travel, have spotty internet, or just want to play without lag.
PlayStation Plus Extra
The Extra tier includes all the benefits of the Essential plan, and adds a large catalog of games that you can play.
- All Essential benefits: Monthly games, online play, discounts, and cloud saves.
- Game Catalog: You get access to a massive library of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games that you can download and play while your subscription is active. This library is similar to services like Xbox Game Pass.
Now, here’s where it gets a little tricky: you can play the Game Catalog games offline, but it’s essential to note that your PlayStation console has to be set as your primary console for the games to work offline. Also, just like the monthly games, your subscription has to be active, and every so often (usually every seven days) the console will need to verify with Sony that your subscription is valid to allow you to play.
PlayStation Plus Premium
PlayStation Plus Premium includes everything in the Essential and Extra plans, but adds even more:
- All Essential and Extra benefits.
- Cloud Streaming: Allows you to stream PS3 and older PS games to your console or PC.
- Classic Games Catalog: A selection of classic games from PlayStation’s past, available for download or streaming.
- Game Trials: You can try selected games for a limited time.
Here’s the important part for offline play: downloaded games from the Classic Games Catalog, and the downloadable titles available in the Game Catalog can be played offline. This depends on the same rules as mentioned above with the primary console setup, subscription verification check ups, and whether the game is downloaded or not. Streaming games from the PlayStation Plus Premium service will not work offline since the games are played through cloud.
The Role of Primary PlayStation Console
A crucial factor in offline play is your “Primary PlayStation Console.” If you want to play any downloaded PlayStation Plus games offline, your PlayStation console needs to be set as your primary console. This helps Sony make sure that people aren’t sharing their games with all of their friends.
How to Set Your PlayStation as Primary
Here’s how you can check or set up your primary console:
For PlayStation 5
- Go to Settings from the home screen.
- Navigate to “Users and Accounts.”
- Select “Other.”
- Choose “Console Sharing and Offline Play.”
- If it says ‘Enabled’ then that’s your primary console, and if you need to enable it, select ‘Enable’.
For PlayStation 4
- Go to “Settings” from the main menu.
- Select “Account Management.”
- Choose “Activate as Your Primary PS4.”
- If it’s already activated, it will tell you that. Otherwise, select “Activate” to make this your primary PS4.
Important Note: If you change your primary console, there’s a cooldown period that you should be aware of, so be careful about switching back and forth between consoles too often. Also, only one console can be set as your primary at any one time.
Verification Checks: Why You Still Need to Connect
Even though you can play PlayStation Plus games offline, you still need to connect to the internet every so often. Sony needs to verify that your PlayStation Plus subscription is still active, to confirm that you are still allowed access to games. If you go too long without connecting, your games will lock, and you won’t be able to play them offline until they have been verified again.
How Often do Verification Checks Happen?
Usually, verification checks happen about every seven days. However, it’s a good idea to connect every so often if you’re going to be playing offline for extended periods, like on a long trip without internet. If it’s been more than a week and you cannot connect to internet, the games will lock. Make sure you have a stable connection before going too long offline.
Types of Games and Offline Play
It is also important to remember that the ability to play offline also depends on the game itself. Most single player and offline multiplayer games you download through PlayStation Plus can be played offline after a verification check. There are however some exceptions.
Games that are Always Online
Some games, especially multiplayer-focused titles, may require a constant internet connection to play even if you are just playing by yourself. These games are usually online games that you can play online with your friends or strangers. These will not work when playing offline, even if you have a PlayStation Plus Subscription, and they are in your library. Check the description of the game before downloading or playing, and see if the game requires internet access to be able to play, if you have any doubts.
Digital-Only Games
Unlike physical games, all PlayStation Plus games are digitally downloaded. This means they are tied to your account and need to be verified. When you have downloaded and installed a PlayStation Plus game, you can play it as long as your subscription is valid, your console is active as a primary console, and you have connected online within the last 7 days.
Troubleshooting Offline Play Issues
Sometimes, you might have issues playing your PlayStation Plus games offline even if you think everything is set up correctly. Here are some tips to troubleshoot these issues:
Check Your Primary Console Status
Always double check to make sure that your console is set as your primary console, as this is the biggest reason that causes problems with offline play.
- Make sure you have correctly set your console as the primary console using the methods mentioned previously
- Check to see if you have made any recent changes to the primary console settings
- If you are using multiple consoles, ensure you are on the correct console.
Verify Your PlayStation Plus Subscription
Make sure your subscription is still valid. If your subscription has expired or if there are any payment issues, you won’t be able to play the games offline until your subscription is active again.
- Go to your PlayStation account settings and check your subscription status.
- Renew your subscription if it has expired.
Connect to the Internet
Try connecting to the internet so the PlayStation network can verify your account. Then try playing offline again. Sometimes a simple reconnection can fix these issues.
- Connect to your Wi-Fi or ethernet.
- Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
Restart Your Console
Sometimes, restarting the console can resolve the issue if you are experiencing trouble when playing your PlayStation Plus games offline.
- Restart your PlayStation 5, or restart your PlayStation 4.
- Wait for the console to fully reboot.
Check for System Updates
Make sure that you have the latest software update. Sometimes system updates can solve various problems with the system and offline play. Make sure your console is up to date.
- Go to your system software and check for updates
- Download and install any available updates.
Re-download the Game
Sometimes, the game data may have become corrupted, and by re-downloading the game, you can fix the problem.
- Try deleting the game and reinstalling it.
Benefits of Offline Play
The ability to play your PlayStation Plus games offline is super useful in different situations. Here are some examples:
Travel
If you travel on a plane, a train, or a long road trip, you won’t always have access to the internet. Being able to play your games offline is great for keeping you entertained on long trips.
Bad Internet
If you have unreliable internet, or live in a place where there is no stable connection, the ability to play offline games can make it possible to enjoy your games, even if you can’t be online.
Reduced Lag
Playing offline games means you won’t have lag or be disconnected from a server. If you’re tired of that lag, you can just enjoy single player games without any worries.
Ultimately, while playing PlayStation Plus games offline is possible, there are some important steps to take to make sure it is working. It’s not a simple matter of “download and go”; instead, it requires making sure that your console is set up as the primary console, and to make sure that your subscription is valid and verified. You will also need to connect to the internet at least once every seven days to play the game when you are offline. With those steps in mind, you’ll be able to enjoy your games anywhere, even without internet.
Can you play PlayStation Plus games offline?
Final Thoughts
You can generally play PlayStation Plus games offline, but there’s a catch. Games acquired through the monthly games catalog require you to connect to PlayStation Network at least once a week to verify your subscription.
This is a must for maintaining access; otherwise, you won’t be able to play them when offline. Therefore, while offline play is possible, it’s not entirely disconnected.
So, can you play playstation plus games offline? Yes, with that important weekly check-in for the catalog titles.
