Returnal is Sony’s second most popular PC game at launch

During its first week of availability on Steam, Sony’s PC port of Returnal drew a peak player count of just 6,691, making it the company’s second most popular title on the personal computer at launch. Only Sackboy: A Big Adventure garnered less interest, attracting a paltry 610 players at any given time during release; A figure that has since failed to improve. Every other PC port from Sony has pulled in a peak player count of at least 10,000, but the rogue-like from Housemark has failed to clear that bar.

Discounts and sales can mean interest in the game grows over time; It is in the present 20th best-selling title on steam. However, at least in the case of Sony games, no PC port has improved its launch player count in the months and years since release.

As of 20 February 2023, Sony’s PC ports have recorded the following highest concurrent player counts:

1. God of War – 73,529 (13 months ago)
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered – 66,436 (six months ago)
3. Horizon Zero Dawn – 56,557 (three years ago)
4. Days gone – 27,450 (two years ago)
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales – 13,539 (three months ago)
6. Unwanted: Legacy of Thieves’ Collection – 10,851 (four months ago)
7. Returns — 6,691 (2 days ago)
8. Sackboy: A Big Adventure – 610 (four months ago)

The next PS5, PS4 title Sony is porting to PC is The Last of Us: Part I, out on March 28, 2023 after a slight delay. Due to the popularity surrounding HBO’s TV adaptation of the game, you have to assume it will attract enough interest to chart much higher than The Returnal. Rumors of the Housemark game coming to PC had been swirling for a long time before the announcement – ​​its settings menu was leaked months before the reveal – which could have contributed to the muted response at launch.