PS5 Introduces New Feature to Show GTA 5 Player Counts

Steam offers a unique perspective on gaming trends, revealing what titles are gaining traction and how they’re performing. While user reviews and player count charts can sometimes be misused to promote negative narratives, they also serve as valuable indicators for tracking which games are currently popular and the reasons behind their success. In contrast, console storefronts like those on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 operate more like black boxes. Aside from occasional top-seller lists, there’s little insight into who is playing what.

However, that might be changing. A recent discovery by a PlayStation YouTuber indicates that Sony is testing a new widget on the PS5 home screen. This feature not only highlights the most-played games in your area but also reveals the exact number of players engaging with them each week. An early look at this feature shows the top eight most-played games in the U.S. for the week.

As noted, this list is likely to remain fairly stable from week to week, and it still lacks the detailed analytics that Steam provides. Nevertheless, it marks the first time players can see how many weekly participants are needed to break into the top ten, and this could change as new titles gain popularity, especially with anticipated releases like GTA 6 on the horizon.

Additionally, the widget features a second ranking that highlights games experiencing significant increases in player activity week-over-week. While it doesn’t disclose total weekly player counts, it does provide metrics such as the percentage increase in playtime for titles like Company of Heroes 3. This could be a way for PlayStation to bring attention to games that have recently received substantial updates or new DLC, an area where the platform has previously struggled.

While it still falls short of the transparency offered by Steam, this development might indicate that Sony is beginning to explore ways to enhance game discoverability and provide a broader view of player activity on PS5. Perhaps it feels the pressure to compete more directly with Valve as the launch of its Steam Machine living room console approaches, or maybe it’s just a fun feature without further plans for expansion.