Dad goes through 15-year-old son’s phone and finds out he has a PS5 at his mom’s house, he demands son bring it to his so his 6 stepsiblings can play too, son refuses: 'It’s going to get broken with 6 kids running around'

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jan 27, 2026 1:00 PM EST

I grew up playing video games religiously. It started with a small PlayStation, then a GameCube. After that, we got a PS2, and we didn't get anymore consoles, but I didn't mind. I was so drawn to the GameCube and all the games it provided. My favorites were different versions of The Sims, all the Mario Party games, Super Smash Bros Melee, and many more. As an adult, I still love to play video games, and sometimes still wish I had my GameCube. I can totally understand the appeal of buying the latest edition of gaming consoles and games. These days, video games are quite literally an art form. From the plot and levels, to the animation, the soundtrack, and everything else involved, it's like an extremely sophisticated immersive experience. 

Especially as a young boy, video games are your escape from the real world. You can leave all your worries behind and immerse yourself into a fantasy world where you command earth-shattering spells, you can fly on the backs of a pegasus or grow your own wings, slay dragons with your own hand, or steal riches without a single soul noticing. Sure, there are many multiplayer games that are fun to share, but it's often something you do to retreat and recuperate. Especially if you have a turbulent family life. And perhaps even six stepsiblings you didn't ask for.

This leads us to our topic today - a teenage boy who has a PS5. His parents are divorced and his mother is better off than his dad. His mom bought him the PS5, so he gets to play every week he's at his mom's place. His father finds out and demands he share his PS5 with his stepsiblings, but the son refuses. You can only imagine where this is going.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    AITA for fighting with my dad because I won't share my PS5 at my mom's house with my stepsiblings at his?

    "You're rubbing it in their faces"
    via Yan Krukau from Pexels / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My mom bought me (15M) a PS5 for Christmas. My friends and I play it all the time when my mom's custody time comes around. My parents share custody of me so I'm at a different house every week. I never said anything about the PS5 at dad's house because I knew my
    via u/Brilliant-Fan521

  • It's insane for this father to demand his son transport a PS5 to his home so his stepsiblings can play too. Why was he going through his son's phone in the first place? Is that normal in their relationship? Because I think it's a pretty strong violation of privacy. 

  • 03
    dad would expect me to share. He's got a huge stick up his a about me having so much more than my stepsiblings because mom only has me and she can afford stuff for me that my dad's wife can't afford for her kids. She has 6 kids who live with her all the time and they all have different dad's and none of
    via u/Brilliant-Fan521
  • 04
    them have their dad around so she struggles to pay for stuff even now that she's married to dad.
    via u/Brilliant-Fan521
  • 05
    This makes my dad go crazy about us being treated the same. But my mom doesn't owe those kids anything and I'm not going to make her pick up the slack for that crop. I'm not close to any of them either so why would I invite them to mom's house? They're not my friends.
    via u/Brilliant-Fan521
  • 06
    My dad was going through my phone last week and saw me text my friends about the PS5 and plans we had to play games. Dad asked me why I never told him about the PS5 and why I didn't bring it to his house to share. He told me I need to do it next time I come over and
    via u/Brilliant-Fan521
  • 07
    he can plan a fun day with me and my stepsiblings. I said no way and we fought about it. He accused me of rubbing the PS5 in their faces and letting them be treated bad. But I said nothing to them and the only reason they know about it or dad even is because he read those texts and got mad at me.
    via u/Brilliant-Fan521
  • 08
    about it My dad gave mom and wanted her to punish me for fighting him and being selfish.
    via Brilliant-Fan521
  • 09
    ProfessorDistinct835 NTA. But it's your mom who needs to intervene here and set your dad straight. Also 100% leave your PS5 at your mom's. It's going to get broken at your dad's house with 6 kids running around.
    via ProfessorDistinct835
  • 10
    LavenderPearl Tea NTA. Why are his step kids entitled to what your mom buys for you? You didn't flaunt anything. If anything, you tried to keep it on the down low. He's the one who went through your phone.
    via LavenderPearl
  • 11
    Playstation
    via Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    When will this ridiculous behavior on his part stop? Is he going to get mad if your mom pays for your college but not for his six step kids? Is he going to demand you don't go to college to make it
    via u/LavenderPearl Tea
  • 13
    "fair"? Is he going to demand you can't get a car or buy a house because it's not "fair" that you're doing better than them?
    via u/LavenderPearl Tea
  • 14
    Idkwhatttoputhere... NTA. I'm 24 and my younger brother is 17 now. Parents have been divorced since I was 12. My brother is the gamer. Whatever "toys" mom bought stayed at mom's period. Dad wants you to share so bad? Have him buy the family one.
    via Idkwhatttoputhere
  • 15
    chaingun_samurai This makes my dad go crazy about us being treated the same. Clearly the problem is that he needs to get a better paying job so that he can create the lifestyle that he believes his
    via chaingun_samurai
  • 16
    horde of stepkids should have. He made the choice to marry a woman that gave birth to a basketball team plus an alternate. It's his problem.
    via u/chaingun_samurai
  • 17
    Boy playing computer games
    via mixetto from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    SockMaster9273 ΝΤΑ Mom bought the PS5. It stays at her house.
    via SockMaster9273
  • 19
    Also, you weren't flaunting. You kept it hidden from them. You never told them. That is the opposite of flaunting.
    via u/SockMaster9273
  • 20
    Final thought on the subject, My brother has a PS5. It's not the most portable devise out there.
    via u/SockMaster9273
  • 21
    WindowPixie Everyone else here is right, plus: Large, expensive electronics do not like to travel. Putting that thing in a backpack and ferrying it back and forth between houses is guaranteed to shorten it's
    via WindowPixie
  • 22
    lifespan like crazy, even if nothing gets spilled on it/ it never gets dropped. I doubt your dad will replace it if something bad happens to it in transit or at his house so yeah no. Hard no, POPS.
    via u/WindowPixie
  • 23
    eta, also if he did replace it, bet it would be 'his' afterwards so yeah, again, hard pass
    via u/WindowPixie

Tags

family drama drama ps5 siblings gaming family feud relationships lol love family reddit thread Reddit funny dating
Scroll Down For The Next Article