Yes, you can play many PS5 and PS4 games without an internet connection during a PlayStation Network outage, provided the game is installed, its license is available on your console, and the title supports offline play. The most important preparation is enabling Console Sharing and Offline Play on your PS5 or activating your PS4 as your account’s primary console while PlayStation services are reachable.
An outage does not unlock every game or restore every feature. Online multiplayer, PlayStation Store access, cloud-save syncing, game streaming, and titles that require a live server can remain unavailable. Use the steps below to check the outage, prepare your library, and avoid risky fixes that will not bypass a license check.
| Feature | Usually available offline? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Downloaded single-player game | Often | The game must support offline play and its license must be usable on this console. |
| Local or split-screen multiplayer | Often | It depends on whether that specific game includes a local mode. |
| Disc game | Often | Use a console with a disc drive, keep the disc inserted, and install the game first. |
| Online multiplayer and live services | No | These need the game’s servers and usually a working network connection. |
| Cloud saves, Store downloads, and game streaming | No | They require a connection. Local save data on the console is separate from cloud syncing. |
“Single-player” is a useful clue, not a guarantee. Some games require a server sign-in even for solo play, and some launches or updates may require an online check. Test the exact game you plan to play before an outage.
On the PS5 you plan to use, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play, then choose Enable. Sony says the setting is automatically enabled on the first PS5 you use to sign in to PlayStation, so check the menu rather than assuming it is off.
This setting lets users of that PS5 play games and media you purchased and downloaded while the console is offline, and it shares some PlayStation Plus benefits. It can be enabled on only one PS5 at a time. If another PS5 is activated for your account, switch the setting there before enabling it on this console. See Sony’s PS5 Console Sharing and Offline Play instructions for activation limits and troubleshooting.
On PS4, open Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4, then select Activate. Each account can have one primary PS4. If a different PS4 is already primary, deactivate it before moving the activation. Sony’s primary PS4 activation guide explains the steps and remote-deactivation limits.
Do this while you can sign in. Signing out of every account, changing a password in Safe Mode, or rebuilding the database does not substitute for primary-console activation and will not make an online-only game work offline.
For a digital game, confirm that it was purchased by the account on the console, fully downloaded, and available under that account’s license. For a disc game, install it in advance and leave the disc inserted when you play. A disc does not include every later patch or downloadable add-on, so install important updates beforehand. A PS5 model without a disc drive cannot read a game disc.
If you intentionally want to disconnect the console from the internet, the PS5 control is under Settings > Network > Settings > Connect to the Internet. On PS4, open Settings > Network and clear Connect to the Internet. You do not need to change this setting just because PSN is down; first try launching the game normally. Disconnecting does not repair a missing license or bypass a game’s server requirement.
These titles have substantial single-player campaigns, but offline launch still depends on your installed version, license, and any game-specific requirements. Their platform listings are linked for reference:
For PlayStation Plus games, keep the subscription active and check that a catalog title has not left the service. Sony’s guide to accessing PlayStation Plus games explains monthly games and catalog access. Streaming a game is not offline play; download it first if your membership and the title allow it.
If you cannot enable offline play because the console cannot reach PlayStation, wait for the network to recover and set it up before the next outage. Avoid factory resets or account changes: they can cost time and do not restore PSN access.
With those checks done ahead of time, a PSN outage does not have to end your session. Keep a few installed, offline-capable games ready, and use Sony’s status page to know when online features are back.
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