PS5 Catches Up: Player Counts Arrive on Console, PC Gamers Chuckle Into Their Energy Drinks
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
The PS5 is finally catching up to PC with a new beta update that displays top game player counts, a feature Steam users have enjoyed for years, though it raises concerns about potential player-count toxicity and highlights existing missing social features on the console.
Well, blimey! Looks like the PlayStation 5 is finally dipping its toes into the grand old ocean of player count transparency. Apparently, an update is making its way to beta testers that'll show off the top 10 games by player count each week, along with some trending titles in the Welcome Hub Widgets. Fair dinkum, eh?
For us digital wizards who've been messing about on PC, this feels a bit like Sony just discovered a spell for 'basic information.' Steam users have been swimming in player count data since... well, since before some of you knew what a GPU was. Unofficial trackers cropped up around 2013, and Valve themselves rolled out official Steam Charts in 2022, detailing current players, top sellers, and most-played games. Meanwhile, console players have largely been left guessing, relying on whispered rumours, in-game estimates, or developers' cryptic tweets. It's like comparing a crystal ball to a soggy tea leaf when it comes to knowing what's truly popping off.
Now, word on the digital street (thanks to sources like YouTuber Mystic, as reported by Adrian Morales at Game Rant) is that the 'Trending' tab will highlight games seeing a recent surge in gameplay hours, while the 'Top 10' will list the week's most-played. While it's currently a beta-only affair with no public timeline, it's definitely a step towards being the *first console ever* to natively implement this kind of feature. That's a big claim, though, considering PC has been doing it for over a decade – perhaps 'first modern console' is a more accurate incantation.
Undoubtedly, seeing what's trending could be mega useful for finding the next viral hotness or spotting games getting a player-luring update. But let's be honest, the 'Top 10' will likely feature the usual suspects like *Fortnite*, *Call of Duty*, and *Grand Theft Auto V* until *GTA VI* finally decides to grace us with its presence and unseat its predecessor. Predictable, but still neat.
Now, before we start high-fiving our mates and celebrating this newfound visibility, there's a flip side to this shiny new coin. A good chunk of players on Reddit and Twitter are already waving their wands of caution, fearing this could spark a new wave of 'player-count wars.' We've all seen it, haven't we? Games getting absolutely roasted if their numbers dip, or new releases prematurely labelled 'flops' because they aren't instantly viral. It's a proper minefield out there, and transparency, while generally a good thing for the industry, can sometimes fuel a rather toxic fire when wielded by the less charitable corners of the internet.
And while we're on the subject of social stuff, it's worth a cheeky reminder that the PS5 is *still* missing some rather vital community features we had back on the PS4. Remember 'Communities' or the 'What's New Feed'? It's a bit like having a fancy new telescope but forgetting to build the observatory. This player count widget is a cool little trinket, but here's hoping Sony's listening to player feedback and conjuring up some more robust social spells before the PS6 apparates. One step forward, two steps back, eh? We'll see how this magic trick plays out.
*(Big thanks to Adrian Morales over at Game Rant for breaking down this news for us originally. You can find the full scoop there at GameRant.com!)*
Tags: PS5, PlayStation, Gaming Industry, Player Counts, Console Gaming
Original article: Game Rant