Sony tests new PS5 feature to make player counts public

The PlayStation 5 is getting an update that will let players see public counts for the week’s top 10 most-played games. The feature, similar to one that has existed on Steam since around 2013, has sparked rumors about a new approach to player data on consoles.

New update in beta

Sony has announced that it is currently testing a new feature for the PlayStation 5 that lets users view player counts for popular games such as Call of Duty and Battlefield 6. According to reports, beta testers received an upgrade to their Welcome Hub widgets, which now show the week’s most popular games and trending titles.

The "Trending" section shows which games have recently seen the biggest jump in playtime, while the "Top 10" section lists the most-played games based on weekly player counts. It offers an interesting look at the gaming community, which is always interested in the popularity of different titles.

Comparisons with other platforms

With the introduction of a feature like this, the PlayStation 5 would become the first console to display public player counts. So far, neither Xbox Series X/S nor PS5 has officially included player counts in their user interface. Console players have often had to rely on estimates or developer posts to find out how large a game’s player base is.

Steam, on the other hand, has long offered more transparency when it comes to player data. The official Steam Charts page, launched in 2022, gives a clear overview of how many players are currently online and which games are being played the most. That contrast highlights the significant step Sony is taking by bringing this feature to PS5.

Community reactions

While the new player-count feature is a step forward for transparency, there are also concerns about the impact of visible player numbers on the community. Some gamers fear that discussions about popular and less popular games could turn toxic, leading to negative sentiment around games like Call of Duty and Battlefield 6, both of which have already seen fluctuations in player counts.

Critics also point out that the numbers may not be a fair reflection of a title’s success, especially if the figures fluctuate or if there is not enough context about how the data is collected. Concerns about how these numbers will be interpreted are understandable, given current trends in the gaming community.

If Sony decides to roll this feature out to all PS5 users in the future, it could further change how gamers interact with one another. However, it is still unclear when that will happen, as there is currently no specific timeline for an official launch.

All in all, adding a player-count feature to PS5 would allow Sony to get closer to its users and give them a better understanding of the popularity of different titles.