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[Mosse]

The more that drops on this the more i am convinced that this is basically a beta test until the holiday when they hope to have all this stuff added to the system.

I am not terribly inclined to spend $400+ on a beta test.

Yeah, the hardware seems great and looks ready. But they don't seem as ready for launch on the software side with many vague statements on things to come in the fall.

But I was planning on waiting until fall to buy it anyway since I don't have the time and money to buy it now with all the games coming out this spring. So I doesn't bother me that much personally.

 

[KAL2006]

My Xbox One is set as my friend's home console and his xbox one is set my home console so each of us can play the other's games too. Hard to blame Nintendo not wanting this situation.

Wow is this possible on PS4. I may just do this with one of my friends and share eachother game libraries. Is it possible to also play the same game with eachother with online multiplayer.

 

[UncleSporky]

It's important to note the difference between the question that was asked and other potential methods of game sharing.

The person asked if they could share a game with their child and presumably both be able to play the game at the same time on different Switches.

I think the assumption inherent in this is that the child has their own separate Nintendo account on the other Switch, and the game would be shared between both accounts.

However, we already know that one Nintendo account can be used on multiple Switches.

Linking With Nintendo Accounts

A link to a Nintendo Account can be set for each user on the NX. After an account has been logged in to on the NX, there is no need to log in again (to reenter a password), aside from a few exceptions like certain errors.
By linking to a Nintendo Account, not only will users be able to play online games on the NX, but they will also be able to use services like the following to which the link is made external to the NX.

• Purchasing of content (from official websites) using smart devices and PCs.
• Importing resources like NNID eCash from older hardware.
• Recommending friends made in non-NX applications.

Limitations on Linking

The link between a user and a Nintendo Account can be removed at any time. After the link has been removed, the user can link to a different Nintendo Account. (The operating policy might put a limit on how often this can be done.)
A single Nintendo Account can be linked to multiple NX systems. (See Fig. 1) When multiple NX systems link to the same Nintendo Account, the user nickname and icon is synchronized across systems. However, the application's save data is not automatically synchronized across systems. On the other hand, it is not possible to either link multiple users to the same Nintendo Account on the same NX system (Figure 2), or to link one user to multiple Nintendo Accounts (Figure 3).

So the parent could link their Nintendo account to both Switches, and potentially, the child could log in as the parent to the other Switch and play those games.

This would likely break Nintendo's TOS in some way. But I don't see how they could get around it unless there is some complex system in place allowing downloaded games to only reside in one location at a time. Or some kind of online location shenanigans where they're like "there's no way you could've traveled 200 miles in 10 minutes to play that same game! BANNED!"

 

[Radec]

Oh.

So... This really isn't that big a deal in my opinion, won't affect many casual users, because multiple consoles doesn't really happened for casual players.

This isn't dismissing it. I'm just saying I don't see it as a big deal for me or for them.

This sharing can also be done with friends.

Many do this to save some $$$. Buy 1 game, then 2 guys share the costs.

 

[Strings]

Good. I'm glad it doesn't have it. Game sharing is pointless anyway.

/s

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

Wow is this possible on PS4. I may just do this with one of my friends and share eachother game libraries. Is it possible to also play the same game with eachother with online multiplayer.

Xbox One, yes. And even only one of you has to buy Live. And I'm pretty sure you can't do that on PS4. My friend and I play BF1 and Xbox nightly and only I bought BF1 and only I have Live.

 

[SRTtoZ]

Xbox One, yes. And even only one of you has to buy Live. And I'm pretty sure you can't do that on PS4. My friend and I play BF1 and Xbox nightly and only I bought BF1 and only I have Live.

Works on PS4, I do this with my best friend so we end up buying more games digitally this way, so in the end it works out for Sony I think because we are buying from their store instead of buying retail. As for Nintendo not doing this, I sort of expected that as Nintendo is ass backwards and don't even have headphone ports on their controllers, and are just finally getting a real account system.

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

Works on PS4, I do this with my best friend so we end up buying more games digitally this way, so in the end it works out for Sony I think because we are buying from their store instead of buying retail. As for Nintendo not doing this, I sort of expected that as Nintendo is ass backwards and don't even have headphone ports on their controllers, and are just finally getting a real account system.

From my understanding, Sony technically doesn't allow this so youre breaking the rules, though they don't enforce them much now. Microsoft flat out tells you on their website how to gameshare and its not bannable.

 

[Dombrowski]

Why would they add it later? I don't see it happening. People have been abusing such feature since last gen, hell I'd say the people who actually use this system as intended are the minority here, lol.

 

[MissCauthon]

One of the few perks of buying digital on XB1 and PS4 is the ability to run two instances of one digital copy. So you can play easily and cheaply with friends or family.

Steam also lets you share libraries (although in a more limited way, and as far as I am aware you cannot both play the same game online at the same time as one person has to use the library in offline mode).

I have a ps4, and i will some day buy a second ps4 for my son. So you say that somehow i will be able to play game i have bought together? Like destiny or call of duty???? With just one digital copy purchased???

 

[Hexer06]

I have a ps4, and i will some day buy a second ps4 for my son. So you say that somehow i will be able to play game i have bought together? Like destiny or call of duty???? With just one digital copy purchased???

I do it on Xbox and pretty sure it works the same for PS4, so yeppers. It's really nice for families or ppl that have 2 consoles and get digital games.

 

[Shin-Ra]

From my understanding, Sony technically doesn't allow this so youre breaking the rules, though they don't enforce them much now. Microsoft flat out tells you on their website how to gameshare and its not bannable.

Nope.

Note You cannot designate more than one Xbox as your home Xbox. You can share purchased games and Gold with other users only on your home Xbox.

http://support.xbox.com/en-US/games/game-setup/my-home-xbox

 

[Shaanyboi]

This may not be something I'm going to need at launch, but I can definitely see it being an issue if our household ends up getting two Switches (one for me, and one for my gf). Hopefully they have that figured out by then.

 

[Koren]

Last time I looked at the PSN ToS, you weren't technically allowed to share something you downloaded with your wife or kids...

Yes, you can connect to your PSN account on another system than the primary, but that's technically not family sharing...

 

[big_erk]

One of the few perks of buying digital on XB1 and PS4 is the ability to run two instances of one digital copy. So you can play easily and cheaply with friends or family.

Steam also lets you share libraries (although in a more limited way, and as far as I am aware you cannot both play the same game online at the same time as one person has to use the library in offline mode).

Don't get me started on Steams family sharing. Steam shares your whole library. That means if some one else is accessing your games you can't play anything. Not even a different game than the other person is playing.

 

[Schnozberry]

No one has been banned for that. It would also be hard to prove. I had two ps4s at launch: one at my wife's (then gf) place, one at my own. She had her own login on the one at her place which was my primary. Then I played on my apartments PS4 while logged in. Was I doing anything wrong or breaking ToS? I went between both places often.

Yes, people have been banned. If you google gamesharing, you can find plenty of examples online. Here's the relevant parts of the TOS:

Do not share, trade, phish for or harvest SEN account sign in details

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferrable, personal licence to use the SEN, and any of its products you are entitled to access, subject to these terms of service. In addition, unless expressly authorised by us, you must not: (i)share, sell, transfer, rent or sublicense all or part of the SEN or any SEN product to anyone else

If you both play games assigned to your account license simultaneously, it's considered a sublicense and Sony could potentially ban you for it under their TOS. Whether or not their system catches it and they move forward with it is a different story. Enforcement isn't always fair or even handed.

 

[Johnohno]

Nope.


http://support.xbox.com/en-US/games/game-setup/my-home-xbox

That's still correct. There is only one Home Xbox console, the friends console.

Basically look at it like getting 2 licenses per digital purchase. One for the console hardware and one for the actual account.

Whatever console hardware is set as the accounts home will have access to the accounts library even if the account isn't logged in (as stated in that link). However if you log into a different console with the account you will also have access to the accounts library, so long as the account is logged in. The moment you log out, the library access is gone.

There's no duping the system or having two home consoles etc. It's following what that link says.

 

[Atheerios]

But what's preventing me from getting a second Switch, logging to my Nintendo Account and then redownloading everything while keeping my first Switch offline?

 

[jroc74]

It's strange that he'd want to share games with his kid, but use a separate account as opposed to just a separate profile. I'm under the assumption it's the latter, because that makes more sense

I know with PS3 for the saves to transfer over doing a system transfer I had to make them their own PSN account. Only did profiles before.

On 360 it didnt matter IIRC.

So when I got a PS4 they already had their own accounts. On XBO I do believe its accounts too because you have to use an email address when setting up on XBO.

They dont have an XBL account AFAIK. Or if they do its a Silver, the email address being required is throwing me off.

I agree with those saying it can be abused but at the same time its a big convenience when you have more than 1 user in your home.

 

[Orochinagis]

Shame, gamesharing would be a nice excuse to play with my friend

 

[mrklaw]

Wow is this possible on PS4. I may just do this with one of my friends and share eachother game libraries. Is it possible to also play the same game with eachother with online multiplayer.

Yes. Arguably on both Xbox and PS4 the 'family sharing' system is easier for friends to use to spread the cost of games, then it is for actual families to use within the same house.

Eg we have two xboxes and I have to set my son's Xbox as my home console so he can play online. That means the living room Xbox has to be secondary. So to play I have to be signed in - normally fine but if he internet goes out or my router farts I'm screwed. Likewise it means my daughter can't play in the living room unless she first signs in as me and leaves me signed in in the background. A workaround but not great. Also means I can't then play on PC using my account as it'll kick her off.

On PS4 it's actually slightly worse. If I had two PS4s I do the same 'reverse' home console. But the living room console (secondary) I don't think automatically uploads saves to the cloud (only home console does that). And my daughter can't play at all because although I can sign in and then switch to her account, it doesn't keep me active so doesn't let her play any of the digital games.

 

[Starwolf_UK]

So the parent could link their Nintendo account to both Switches, and potentially, the child could log in as the parent to the other Switch and play those games.

Why would the child have to log in as the parent? If digital games can only be played by the account that purchased them that is both a step backward from the Wii U and retail versions of the same games. Also the dev leaks suggested accounts could be switched during game play and some basic games might not require accounts.

Of course this leaves me wondering if all digital things can be shared with all users like say, a Pokemon Bank subscription.

But what's preventing me from getting a second Switch, logging to my Nintendo Account and then redownloading everything while keeping my first Switch offline?

Nintendo has not said but it might not let you redownload the games because the license is active elsewhere. It might let you redownload the games but not share them with any other users on that system or you have to always be online to play (like the Xbox One example given).

 

[Mokujin]

Is the PS4 "Family Sharing" the possibility of having one game on two consoles? Because in my experience that is not being used 99% of the time for family sharing but to get 2 games instead of one for the same price between friends (which may be only slightly shady) but it also creates a second market where people sell secondary game access.

It's very convenient for users but it's also quite shady overall.

 

[ZeroCoin]

It's very convenient for users but it's also quite shady overall.

I love all this 'shady' talk. Documented, intended feature of the console...Shady. Where we you guys back in the days of the 5 activated PS3 days?

Do people abuse it? Absolutely. But that abuse is why they restricted it from what it used to be in Sony's case. For all the negatives that digital gaming brings, Sony and MS actually have a small benefit here and everyone wants to label it shady. As if these companies can't possibly do some rough inquires on their data to get a ballpark figure on how often it is happening.

 

[Screamapillar]

They could easily add support for game sharing later, it's not a "No, we will not be providing that option, ever."

Xbox One and PS4 both launched without some key features that people wanted/ expected, that have been slowly added over the last three years.

 

[UserDoesNotExist]

Nintendo's boneheaded decisions have been historically justified by "it's for the kids." How does this help the kids in any way? Seriously, who exactly are they trying to target with this ecosystem?

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Ughhhhh this sucks huge that they won't aren't doing this but I knew not to expect it.

So does this mean that yes, a family member would be able to download the games but no they would not be able to play them if I'm playing them? Do you have to be logged into the account that bought the game to play the game or can the family member play on a different account once it's downloaded?

Just a bit confusing. Basically just thinking of me and my bro.

 

[boiled goose]

Dont care about this.
Just give me a proper account.

A couple of systems per account is fine.

 

[Majmun]

It's a soft launch. I'm sure this feature will be available when the console launches for real

 

[Lexxism]

Dont care about this.
Just give me a proper account.

A couple of systems per account is fine.

There's already a proper account. Games are now tied to the account instead of the hardware.

 

[Deadpool_X]

I'm still confused, because it sounda like the guy asking the question was talking about a singular system.

Does this mean that, if I buy a game digitally and my son signs into the Switch and I'm signed out, he can play any games I've downloaded under my account, even if they're already on the system?

 

[Zemm]

How does it work when both devices are set offline？

On the secondary PS4 you need to be connected to PSN otherwise the game won't start up.

We have two PS4's in our house and use game sharing, it's pretty shit that the Switch doesn't support it since we'll have two of those as well. I don't really trust them when they say they'll think about it.

 

[Dragonslayer_023]

So if I log into my account on another Switch, I can't download my digital games there? Or can I even log into my account on another Switch at all? And if I can download my games what stops them from being played on my original Switch?

THIS IS NOT ABOUT REDOWNLOADING YOUR OWN GAMES TO ANOTHER OF YOUR OWN SWITCHES

Isn't that exactly what this is about? If you could redownload your games to another Switch at all there would be a way to do what the guy asked.

 

[UncleSporky]

So if I log into my account on another Switch, I can't download my digital games there? Or can I even log into my account on another Switch at all? And if I can download my games what stops them from being played on my original Switch?



Isn't that exactly what this is about? If you could redownload your games to another Switch at all there would be a way to do what the guy asked.

I posted above on this page the information we already know from the earlier leak. You can log into your account on another Switch. Currently we don't know what would stop them from being played on another Switch.

With regard to the red text, no, that's not what this is about. The way the question was phrased sounded like the person wanted to enable sharing on a specific game, which would let them and their child play at the same time, on different Switches, probably on different accounts. That might be a step too far. They don't say anything about whether the kid could just sign in as their parent, probably because the idea of the wrong person logging in as a user would be technically against Nintendo TOS or something.

 

[Pokemaniac]

So if I log into my account on another Switch, I can't download my digital games there? Or can I even log into my account on another Switch at all? And if I can download my games what stops them from being played on my original Switch?



Isn't that exactly what this is about? If you could redownload your games to another Switch at all there would be a way to do what the guy asked.

No, this is about other people that you designate being able to download your games on their Switch. This has nothing to do with you being able to download games you own on a Switch that you're logged in to.

 

[Wereroku]

So if I log into my account on another Switch, I can't download my digital games there? Or can I even log into my account on another Switch at all? And if I can download my games what stops them from being played on my original Switch?



Isn't that exactly what this is about? If you could redownload your games to another Switch at all there would be a way to do what the guy asked.

No this is more about having the games be accessible to another user. The PS4/XBO handle this through the home system stuff. I am sure you can login and load your games on multiple switches but they would have to use your account and couldn't get online at the same time as you.

 

[Huge Succeeded]

edit: misunderstood.