If you just bought a PlayStation console or are thinking of downloading Genshin Impact for the first time, you’ve probably wondered: can i play genshin impact without ps plus? A lot of console players assume every online game requires a paid subscription to access, but Genshin Impact works a little differently from most AAA multiplayer titles. I’ve been playing Genshin on PS5 for three years, alternating between accounts with and without active PS Plus subscriptions, so I’ve tested every edge case of what works and what doesn’t when you skip the subscription. This guide breaks down exactly what you can do without PS Plus, what you’ll miss out on, and whether it’s worth paying for the extra service if you only play Genshin.
Can I Play Genshin Impact Without PS Plus? Core Game Access Breakdown
The short answer is yes, you can access almost all of Genshin Impact’s core content without an active PS Plus subscription. Sony updated its subscription rules back in 2020 to exempt all free-to-play games from PS Plus requirements for core online access, so Genshin Impact falls into that category alongside other popular F2P titles like Fortnite and Warzone. I played the entire Sumeru archon quest on a secondary PS account without PS Plus last year, and I never hit a paywall to progress through the main story.
You can also pull for limited banner characters, farm artifacts, level up your team, complete every side quest, and explore every corner of Teyvat without paying for the subscription. The only catch here is that this only applies to the free-to-play base game, so if you buy paid DLC like character story quests or expansion passes, you still don’t need PS Plus to access that content either. You do not need PS Plus to download Genshin Impact, access the open world, or complete all story content on PlayStation.
Features You Can’t Access Without a PS Plus Subscription for Genshin Impact
While all core single-player content is fully accessible without PS Plus, there are a small number of limited features locked behind the subscription. Most casual players won’t even notice these restrictions, but it’s good to know what you’re giving up before you decide to skip the subscription. The main limitations include:
- Co-op multiplayer with friends or random players: This is the biggest restriction for most players. You can’t join other people’s worlds or invite them to yours if you don’t have an active PS Plus subscription, even if they’re playing on PC or mobile.
- Exclusive PS Plus monthly rewards: Sony occasionally runs promotions for Genshin players with active subscriptions, including free primogems, mora, and weapon enhancement materials that aren’t available to non-subscribers.
- PS Plus cloud save backups: If you don’t link your Genshin account to a HoYoverse account, you’ll lose your save data if your PlayStation breaks or you switch consoles, since only PS Plus subscribers get free cloud save backups for all games.
- Exclusive PlayStation avatar frames and profile cosmetics: A small number of profile customization items for Genshin are only available to players who have an active PS Plus subscription.
For me, the co-op lock is the only real downside of skipping PS Plus for Genshin. I usually play solo 90% of the time, so it didn’t bother me for my first year of play, but I did subscribe for a month last year when I needed help beating the Spiral Abyss floor 12. If you mostly play alone, you won’t even notice the other restrictions. Co-op multiplayer is the only major feature most players will miss when they skip PS Plus for Genshin Impact.
Workarounds for Genshin Impact PS Players Who Don’t Want PS Plus
You don’t have to pay for a full PS Plus subscription if you only need access to locked features every once in a while, there are plenty of simple workarounds to get the features you want for less or no extra cost. First off, if you’re worried about losing your save data without PS Plus cloud saves, just link your Genshin Impact account to a free HoYoverse account. All your progress will be saved to HoYoverse’s servers, so you can log in on any other device, or even a new PlayStation, and pick up right where you left off, no subscription required. That’s what I do for all my accounts, and I’ve never lost progress even when I reset my PS5 last year.
If you really want to play co-op occasionally but don’t want to pay for a full year of PS Plus, you can buy one-month subscriptions only when you need them. Lots of players do this for events that require co-op, or when they want to farm bosses with friends, and cancel the subscription for the rest of the year. Another little-known trick is to use PlayStation’s game share feature if you have a friend or family member who already has an active PS Plus subscription. If you set their account as the primary account on your PlayStation, you’ll get access to all their PS Plus benefits, including co-op play for Genshin, without paying for your own subscription.
You can also play co-op on mobile or PC for free if you have access to either device, since those platforms don’t require any paid subscription for online play. I keep the mobile version of Genshin on my phone for when I want to run co-op domains with friends without paying for PS Plus. Linking your PS Genshin account to a HoYoverse account eliminates the need for PS Plus cloud saves entirely.
Is PS Plus Worth Buying If You Only Play Genshin Impact?
The answer to this depends entirely on how you play the game. If you regularly play co-op with friends, or join random teams to farm bosses and domains, then a PS Plus subscription is worth the cost, especially if you play other online PlayStation games too. You also get extra primogems and rewards every few months from Sony’s PS Plus promotions, which add up to around 1,000 primogems a year on average, enough for almost seven wishes on limited banners.
But if you’re a strictly solo player who never joins other worlds, and you already linked your HoYoverse account for save backups, there’s no reason to pay for PS Plus just for Genshin. I know dozens of players who have put thousands of hours into the game on PlayStation without ever paying for a subscription, and they’ve accessed every piece of core content without issues. Just make sure you’re not paying for PS Plus by accident if you don’t use any of its features for Genshin or other games.
PS Plus is never required to access 100% of Genshin Impact’s single-player content. If you’re on the fence, test out the game without a subscription first, and only pay for PS Plus if you find yourself wishing you could join friends for co-op sessions. If you play other online PlayStation games besides Genshin, a PS Plus subscription will give you much more value for your money.
At the end of the day, you don’t have to stress about hidden paywalls stopping you from playing your favorite open world game on PlayStation. If you were asking can i play genshin impact without ps plus, the short answer is a resounding yes for all solo content, with only minor restrictions for multiplayer and exclusive rewards. Take a minute to think about how you prefer to play Genshin before you decide to pay for a subscription, and don’t forget to link your HoYoverse account to keep your progress safe no matter what. You can always test out the game for free without PS Plus first, and add the subscription later if you decide you want to try co-op or claim exclusive rewards.