Is Big Walk free? Price, PS Plus and copies per player

The short answer

No, Big Walk is not free to play. As of 27 October 2026 it costs US$19.99 on Steam and on the US PlayStation Store. It was free only to PlayStation Plus members on PS5, who could claim it from 4 to 31 August 2026.

Two costs catch groups out. On PS5 and Switch 2, each player also needs a paid online subscription (PS Plus or Nintendo Switch Online), because the stores list online play as required. And there is no split screen: on Steam and Switch 2, two people playing at the same time need two copies, even with family sharing.

We checked every price and rule below on 27 October 2026 (the Mac App Store price on 28 October) on the official store pages, the developer's official FAQ and the platform holders' own help pages. Prices change with sales and region, so treat them as a snapshot and check the store before you pay. We do not sell the game and have no deal with any store.

What each player pays, by platform

Prices checked 27 October 2026 (Mac App Store: 28 October 2026).

The official FAQ lists Big Walk for Windows and Mac (Steam and the Mac App Store), PS5 and Switch 2, and says "No other platforms are planned at this time." An Epic Games Store page we tried returned a bot check on 27 October, so Epic availability is Unknown. Steam's store data lists no demo for Big Walk.

It was free on PS Plus. Can I still get it free?

Only if you claimed it in time. The PlayStation Blog listed Big Walk as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game for PS5, available to members "from Tuesday August 4 until Monday August 31" 2026. That was launch day, so PS5 players with PS Plus could claim it at release.

• You claimed it in August 2026: it is still in your library. PlayStation's general rule is that Monthly Games are "yours to keep for as long as you're a member" (PS Plus page), so if your PS Plus lapses you lose access until you subscribe again.
• You did not claim it: the Monthly Games claim window ended on 31 August, so you buy it. Whether it is in the PS Plus Extra or Premium Game Catalog is Unknown; we did not check.
• You play on Steam, Mac or Switch 2: the PS Plus offer never applied to you.

Why PS5 and Switch 2 players also pay for online

Big Walk is an online co-op game. The official FAQ says there is no single-player mode (you can only explore "a little bit" alone) and no same-screen co-op. The PlayStation Store lists "PS Plus required for online play" and "Online play required". The Nintendo eShop lists an internet connection as required and says "Any online play modes require a paid membership to Nintendo Switch Online." So on these consoles, buying the game is not enough to play it with friends.

Some buyers learned this the hard way. Two US PlayStation Store reviews we read on 27 October say it plainly: "This game requires PlayStation Plus to play, however, it will let you still buy it if you don't" (11 August 2026), and "Just spent $21 purchasing this game and can't even play it" (23 August 2026).

• PS5: you need an active PS Plus membership. Essential is the lowest tier that includes online multiplayer; see the current prices on PlayStation's plans page. The store also notes that PS5 and PS Portal cloud streaming is supported only with Premium.
• Switch 2: you need Nintendo Switch Online. On Nintendo's US page (checked 27 October 2026) an individual membership is US$19.99 a year, and a family membership covers up to 8 Nintendo accounts for US$34.99 a year. Nintendo offers a free 7-day trial of the individual membership, which "can only be redeemed once per Nintendo Account after 10/20/2026"; you still have to buy the game.
• Steam: online play needs no subscription.

Does everyone need their own copy?

Every player needs their own device, and on Steam and Switch 2 their own copy. The developers built the game around talking only through the in-game voice chat. Their FAQ says the game "only really works if players are physically separate from one another" and recommends that players "avoid sharing the same room, let alone the same screen". Separate rooms in the same house are fine; see the separate-rooms rule.

Family sharing does not get you a second simultaneous player:

• Steam Families: Steam's help page says that if two family members want to play the same game at the same time, "someone else in the family will need to purchase a copy of the game" (Steam Families FAQ). Big Walk supports Family Sharing, so a family member can play your copy while you are not playing.
• Nintendo Family Group Lending: you can lend the game to a family member for 14 days, but "you will not be able to play games that you lend out" (Nintendo support).
• PS5: the store says you can play the game "on the main PS5 console associated with your account (through the 'Console Sharing and Offline Play' setting) and on any other PS5 consoles when you login with your same account." Whether two people can play Big Walk together at the same time from one purchase this way is Unknown: we have not tested it, and each player still needs PS Plus for online play.

Mixing platforms is fine. The official FAQ says players on different systems can play together. Only the first two numbers of everyone's version need to match; the version rule explains it and the hosting self-check checks it for you.

What a group actually pays: three examples

Store prices checked 27 October 2026; sales and tax differences left out.

Our reading: for a mixed group, the cheapest setup is usually each person playing on the platform they already pay for. A PS5 player who already has PS Plus pays only for the game, and pays nothing for the game if they claimed it in August and are still a member.

Before you buy: a quick check

1. Count players. Big Walk needs at least 2 and supports up to 12; see how many players you need.
2. Give everyone their own device, copy and microphone. A headset helps; see voice chat fixes.
3. PS5 players: confirm PS Plus is active. Switch 2 players: confirm Nintendo Switch Online.
4. PC and Mac players: check the system requirements; see whether 8 GB of RAM is enough.
5. Friends only on Xbox? Big Walk is not available there; see games like Big Walk for co-op games you can all play.

Sources

• Steam store data for app 1478500 (price by region, Family Sharing, no demo listed), read 27 October 2026.
• PlayStation Store listing: price, online requirements, console sharing note and user reviews, read 27 October 2026.
• PlayStation Blog, 28 July 2026: the August Monthly Games window.
• Nintendo eShop, Australia: price, Nintendo Switch Online notice, Family Group Lending, read 27 October 2026.
• Mac App Store listing: US price, read 28 October 2026.
• Big Walk official FAQ: platforms, no single-player mode, no same-screen co-op, crossplay, version numbers.
• Steam Families FAQ and Nintendo virtual game card guide.