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You can often let someone else play a digital game through a platform’s sharing feature, but that does not transfer the game’s license or give you the right to resell it. The rules depend on the platform, game, account relationship, and country. If you want to lend a game temporarily, use the platform’s approved sharing option—or lend compatible physical media. If you want to sell it permanently, check the applicable terms and local law first.
First decide what you mean by “share”
Playing a purchased game on another console, letting a family member access it, lending it to a friend, and selling it permanently are different actions. A platform may grant another account limited access without changing who bought or holds the license. A library entry is not necessarily a transferable copy that you can give away or sell.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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GameStop Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Xbox Physical Gift Card | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Fortnite Physical Gift Card | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Play on another device: Use the platform’s account, console, or online-license features, subject to their setup and connection requirements.
- Lend temporarily: Use a sharing feature if the platform permits it for that person and title. A compatible physical game card or disc may be easier to lend.
- Resell permanently: Do not assume a digital purchase can be transferred. Check the platform agreement, any publisher restrictions, and the law where you live.
The platform guidance below was checked on October 4, 2026. Features and terms can change, and a game may have additional restrictions.
How the main platforms handle digital game sharing
| Platform | Approved access route described by the platform | Key boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | Steam Families can expose eligible games to members using their own accounts. | Sharing is not a transfer; game eligibility and simultaneous play depend on the title and number of family-owned copies. |
| Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 | Virtual game cards can be lent to members of a Nintendo Account family group; online licenses are another way to play eligible purchases under Nintendo’s device rules. | Games and DLC remain tied to the purchasing Nintendo Account. |
| Xbox / Microsoft | Microsoft’s digital-goods rules establish general license terms; check Xbox’s current service rules for the specific sharing or home-console setup. | Digital licenses generally cannot be transferred or resold, and access may be affected by account, subscription, region, or service conditions. |
| PlayStation | Consult the terms for your country and PlayStation service for permitted account or console access. | US terms describe a personal, non-transferable license subject to local law; UK terms expressly restrict resale unless authorized. |
Steam Families: share eligible games within a family
Valve announced Steam Families as available to all users on September 11, 2024. A family can have up to six members total: its creator and up to five invited members. Members use their own accounts, saves, achievements, and Workshop files, while eligible games owned by other family members can appear in their family library. Valve’s announcement and FAQ explain the feature and its limits.
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There are two important title-level and play-time limits. Developers can opt their games out, and games that require a third-party key, account, or subscription may not be shareable. Multiple family members can play the same title at once only if the family owns multiple copies. Eligible games can be played offline if the game itself supports Family Sharing.
Steam Families gives access, not a new owner. Valve says members keep ownership of their own games, and the Steam Families announcement describes eligible games as appearing in the family library. The Steam Subscriber Agreement also restricts selling, transferring, renting, or licensing Steam content except where the agreement or applicable law permits it.
Nintendo Switch and Switch 2: virtual game cards and online licenses
Nintendo’s system has separate options rather than one general-purpose “share” switch. A virtual game card can be lent to a member of your Nintendo Account family group so that person can play on their own console. An online-license setting can allow purchased downloads to be played while connected to the internet without a virtual game card loaded, subject to Nintendo’s device setup rules. These options are not the same as transferring the purchase to another account.
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Nintendo states: “Digital games and downloadable content are tied to the Nintendo Account that purchased them.” Its support page explains virtual game cards, online licenses, and playing across consoles: How to Play Your Games Across Multiple Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Consoles. Check that page and the settings on your consoles for the current steps and requirements.
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Xbox and Microsoft: check the service rules for the setup
Microsoft’s Digital Goods usage rules describe digital content as licensed for personal, non-commercial use and generally prohibit transferring or reselling licenses, subject to stated exceptions and applicable service rules. Those general rules do not establish every Xbox sharing or home-console configuration. For that, check the current Xbox rules and the exact game’s requirements.
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Microsoft lists circumstances that can affect access, including account or terms violations, unpaid recurring subscription fees, a region change, failure to refresh a license, or termination of a service. Do not treat access through a subscription or another account’s setup as a permanent purchase or ownership transfer.
PlayStation: terms differ by region
For the United States, PlayStation’s Terms of Service describe Store purchases as personal licenses for private, non-commercial use. They say a license is non-transferable unless local law requires otherwise, and prohibit selling, renting, leasing, or lending content except as stated in the agreement or expressly permitted.
The UK wording is separately stated: PlayStation UK’s Software Usage Terms say users must not resell digital or disc-based games unless Sony expressly authorizes it; if another company published the software, that publisher must also authorize it. Do not apply this UK wording as a universal statement about every country.
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
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Can you resell a digital game?
For the platforms covered here, the practical answer is: generally, do not assume that you can. The rules above treat digital access as a license governed by account and service terms, not as a physical copy that the purchaser can automatically pass on. Selling account credentials or trading accounts is not a demonstrated lawful way to transfer an individual game license, and it can put account access at risk.
Country-specific law may affect how contract terms apply, so a platform’s terms alone do not settle every legal question. In its March 2025 inquiry report, Australia’s ACCC characterized standard-form store contracts at stores including Steam and PlayStation as providing a revocable license to access and play rather than ownership of a digital copy and permanent lending rights. The ACCC’s Australian survey found 56% of surveyed game players were unaware of this licensing arrangement, and 72% considered the described arrangement quite or very unfair. Those figures describe the ACCC’s Australian survey, not players worldwide. Read the ACCC report for its findings and scope.
If resale rights matter to a particular purchase, verify the law and current contract terms for your country and the specific platform and title before acting. This guide is practical information, not a worldwide legal opinion.
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- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch system.
When a physical copy is the better choice
If your main goal is to lend a game temporarily, a compatible physical game card or disc can be simpler: you lend the media, and the recipient uses it on a compatible console. Nintendo explicitly describes inserting a physical game card into the console where another user wants to play. Availability and compatibility still depend on the particular console and game. A physical loan does not alter the rules for your separate digital license.
For a permanent sale, physical media may offer a clearer practical route than a digital license, but the relevant product terms and local law still matter. Do not bypass platform protections or hand over an account as a substitute for an authorized transfer.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
