Gifting games is one of the best ways to bring happiness, yet Sony no longer permits retailers to sell full digital game download codes.
However, there are still several ways you can give someone a PlayStation 5 game as a gift – we will show you how in three simple steps!
Digital Gifts
Video games are an inexpensive and enjoyable way to bring joy to those we care about, particularly on birthdays or Christmas. Unfortunately, due to physical disc drives not being present and Sony not permitting game gifting, giving PlayStation 5 games as gifts may prove challenging; fortunately there are two methods for doing this; using the PlayStation Store gift card feature and swapping user accounts so the new user can download games onto the console as though they were their own!
PlayStation Store gift cards come in several denominations. You can either have the card delivered immediately, or schedule it to arrive on a certain date – you can even customize its arrival with a personal message to make someone special feel extra-special! This option makes shopping for friends or family easy!
Another way is using PlayStation Store user-sharing feature as a gift, however this requires knowing both their username and password as well as changing to their account to activate their console as the primary one. Although this method can be great way of surprising a friend, be sure to do it at least a day ahead so as not to ruin any surprise that might ensue!
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Shopping for PlayStation fans or video gamers in general? Don’t worry: there are lots of fantastic options out there to meet any need or desire. For inspiration on what to purchase for Christmas this year, refer to our PlayStation gift guide – don’t wait too long before planning out what everyone needs as gifts! Don’t put off thinking ahead – getting ahead will ensure finding perfect gifts for everyone on your list.
Physical Gifts
Though PlayStation 5 doesn’t yet allow gamers to gift games like its rivals do (Steam and Xbox), there are still options for those seeking to surprise their friends with video game gifts. One such idea could be giving someone a subscription to PlayStation Plus – offering constantly expanding titles at higher tiers for a monthly fee.
Purchase them a physical copy of a game – either by visiting your local gaming shop, ordering it online, or selecting an option with gift wrap capability to add that extra special touch.
However, one downside of this method is that it requires you to know the PlayStation login of the person for whom you’re buying the game – this poses a security risk as accessing a person’s personal content can be done through their PlayStation login and may not be something you feel comfortable doing with friends who you don’t know that well.
An affordable third option would be to give them physical accessories for their console, such as a controller or headset. They’re sure to appreciate you thinking of them while leaving more money available to buy more games!
Physical PlayStation Store gift cards may also be more convenient, although this may prove more challenging if your recipient resides far away – although you could try gathering information on them without them knowing about this! Nonetheless, this option should definitely be explored further as one possible gift option.
The ideal gift would be physical rather than digital games – making your friend happy while helping them save on costs associated with triple-A titles. While we hope Sony implements a system to simplify gifting games in its ecosystem in the future, for now these solid options should suffice.
Digital Gift Cards
There are multiple ways PlayStation gift cards make for easy gifting of games. One method is purchasing them a PlayStation Store gift card – your friend can then select their game from among those available in the PlayStation Store catalog. Cards can be bought from retailers like Amazon or Best Buy; making this an easy way of giving someone their dream game without divulging your credit card number or personal data.
As another option, consider giving them a PlayStation Plus subscription as an awkward gift that provides access to games and content for their console. While you might think of something else they need more immediately than this subscription service, a PS Plus membership could make an ideal present!
As another option, buying them a physical copy of their favorite game could make a great present! They can keep it for themselves or share it with friends; and this can make a memorable way to commemorate any occasion such as birthdays, holidays or special celebrations! Just make sure that it matches their PlayStation 5 console version since not all PlayStation 5 variants come equipped with disc drives!
Finally, you could try doing something sneaky by buying the game for yourself and giving it to your friend later. This was once common practice before April 1, 2019, when Sony changed its digital-game purchase policies in order to prevent people from buying full games and selling them on secondary markets – however this new policy makes this tactic less effective if your goal is to surprise someone with it!
Before purchasing and redeeming PlayStation Store gift cards on PS4 and PS5, however, you will first need to change the user of your console from your account to that of a friend’s console. Although this step shouldn’t take too long to complete, ideally take this action a day or two in advance for maximum effect and your friend should be delighted when they log onto their account and find their game already downloaded!
Gift Wrap
While PlayStation4 allowed users to give digital games as gifts, and other platforms like Steam made this process simple for PC gamers, Sony did not permit digital game giveaways at once – making it more challenging than ever to surprise your friend with something for their birthday or another special event. Luckily, there are some tricks you can use to make the experience of giving digital gifts more pleasurable on PS5.
If you can’t buy your friend a game directly, another way is to give them PlayStation Store credit instead. Simply prepare your credit card in advance and execute the transaction a few hours or days before their intended redemption date to prevent them from purchasing their gift early. Ideally this should only be done if it can guarantee no one will notice their new credit on their account.
As always, the best way to surprise a friend with a PlayStation5 game is through buying them one from the store – this way they’re guaranteed a new title and you save money! However, for something different and exciting why not buy them a unique licensed accessory such as Paladone’s PlayStation Icons Light which illuminates controller icons in style?
One father on Reddit went the extra mile when giving his son a PS5. He carefully wrapped it so it didn’t resemble a PlayStation 5 at all; people were left stunned at his thoughtfulness, which created an unforgettable unwrapping experience with plenty of toilet puns to boot! People couldn’t stop talking about his gift!