Unfortunately, Sony doesn’t have a most played PlayStation games list like Xbox and Steam, which means we’re often left in the dark over what people are actually playing on PS5 and PS4. Still, it doesn’t take a genius to guess the contents of the top ten, and this Circana chart at least gives us a glimpse into the most played games in the United States in September 2023.
Analyst Mat Piscatella says the chart is ranked using Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker based on monthly active users, but we can’t find any further information on how the data is actually accumulated. We’re presuming this is based on logins rather than actual playtime, although that’s an assumption on our part.
Nevertheless, Fortnite is unsurprisingly in first place, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5 right behind. Saints Row climbed all the way up from 93rd position into fourth on the back of its PS Plus release, which demonstrates the kind of impact subscription services can have. Outside that, two NBA 2K titles charted a little further down the list.
We’re surprised to see Genshin Impact absent, although we imagine it’s hovering just outside the top ten. We have to imagine, if we ever get October data, Roblox will break the top ten. It’s an interesting chart overall, though, and we’d like to hope Sony will be a little more forthcoming about PSN’s most played games moving forwards – it’d certainly help influence our content coverage here at Push Square.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 62
A sorry list indeed.
Yeah dont let a list like this influence your content ,I dont want to see article after article about fortnite, thank you very much.
@thefourfoldroot1 absolutely heart breaking ,is what that list is 😂
And people question why PlayStation wants in on the live service market.
7/10 of these are basically live service.
Shocked to see Saints Row there.
I don't even like at all those 10 games above.
I only play kids games.
I don't like a lot of popular stuffs that completely against with my personal interest.
I don't care AAA games.
I don't like too mainstream stuffs.
@Netret0120 probably because it was in PS+. I tried it for about an hour, it’s a pile of crap game
I started playing Fortnite in November 2017 and I still play it, say what you want about that game, it’s still a solid multiplayer game.
The crossovers they do are amazing, of course there were some bad seasons but with the return of the OG map next week and combined with zero build, it is going to be an amazing time for this game.
Sony should buy Epic games and have them make a live service Socom that kills COD on PlayStation. They would own the Gears of War and Halo creators, payback for Microsoft stealing Crash and Spyro.
@thefourfoldroot1 old man yells at cloud
None of the games that my friends and I play. Damn, we really are the minorities.
@puddinggirl same here. None of these games interest me. Used to play Apex Legends back in the day but droppes out a while back. Otherwise, haven’t had interest in any of the games on the list
Sad reality when those are the most played games
Quite surprised that FC 24 / Fifa isn't there.
That list makes for some pretty sad reading
Saints Row is the surprise there. Even with it being a PS Plus game.
People are still playing Cold War? Why?
Do yourself and the gaming community at large a favor and let’s get Alan Wake 2 into these charts.
I feel like there is such a divide between “gamers” and “gamers.” It’s quite interesting to me. There is two completely separate ecosystems and it feels like they hardly overlap. It’s quite interesting that, on one hand, we have this large populist GAAS base that is concerned with metas and builds and streaming, etc that largely plays a single game and nothing else which doesn’t mesh with another dedicated gaming base that arguably purchases more games per year and has more focus on the industry at large. It’s so interesting to me that there is this divide now, as there used to be a time where I feel most gamers did balance both sides of the gaming fence, so to speak. I know, with people I know, there’s hardly anyone I know that plays GAAS titles that branch out these days so much, and meanwhile, the people I know that are interested in single player games stay far away from anything mp. However, I remember a time when my whole group was playing Half Life at the same time while playing Counter Strike together. Where did that unity in gaming go?
@BowTiesAreCool
Youngster thoughtlessly assumes everything new is better (rather than just more profitable, as is usually the case in business).
@thefourfoldroot1 youngster 🤣 thank you!
Well when you see data like that you can sort of understand why the bean counters are pushing for Sony to do more GaaS.
As said, a sorry list indeed...
Fortnite is guaranteed the number 1 spot next month too, with them bringing back the Chapter 1 map next week.
I only started playing Fortnite in Chapter 2 Season 4 so I can’t wait to play on the original map.
Surprised Cold War is still up there, but honestly Vanguard was not my personal favorite, so I'm glad it still had an audience. Although, the PS+ Essential inclusion may contribute to its success.
Only 2 games I like there GTA and mk . Ah well back to Alan wake
They won't surprise you, but they'll sure depress you!
I'm always always amazed at GTA V's longevity, and it's over 10 years old now, covering 3(!) console generations.
@somnambulance Alan Wake 2 might do better if it came on one of those weird, shiny platters...
@somnambulance
If Alan Wake 2 was released in physical format, I would be highly tempted to have ordered it ASAP.
Good lord thats a pretty abysmal picture of the state of gaming. Its pretty much all live service games and multiplayer. That list to me is irrelevant to be honest and shows exactly why sony are pushing so hard for the live service model etc. It also shows that the majority of gamers overall who contribute to those numbers are more than happy with micro transactions and season/battle pass mechanics which paints a disturbing future of one of our favorite hobbies..
I'd be interested to see how the UK list differs. Probably just swap out NBA for FIFA (or whatever it's called now). Surprised to see Apex Legends in there, I thought that had dropped off a bit.
Filthy casuals
This list secretly makes my heart bleed. I'm from the 80's. So I practically grew up with Gaming. But at least the future for gaming looks bright.
@Suda51ueda Yeah because Sony can afford Fortnite.
@sanderson72 Most likely not. I love Alan Wake and i'm so happy i'm actually playing a sequel but its fairly niche. Making it digital only proberly makes them more money plus its allowed the £50 price tag something i doubt it would cost if it got a disc release.
Nothing surprising about this list and people are free to play what they want to. It is, however, representative of the taste of the masses. Hardcore gamers are a minority.
@Suda51ueda Epic is far too big for Sony to just buy. It would have to be a merger and I don't see that making any sense for either at the moment.
So does this list even count single player games? Can it track logins for that type of thing or only multiplayer? That might skew the numbers a bit.
What do people even do on GTA after all these years?
Jesus, this list is absolutely tasteless lol People really need to broaden their horizon.
Yeah not surprising. With most people working for a living and no imagination or requirement for challenge in their entertainment cheap thrills reign supreme.
Still hate my most played game is is Warzone during lockdown but Verdansk was the only way to see my friends. Good but bleak times.
That's pretty sad. Aside from MK1, there's not a single good game on that list. Just goes to show the casual hobbyists have taken over gaming, that's why garbage anti-consumer GAAS ***** dominates. It's okay to enjoy ***** games people, you just have to acknowledge it. Nobody calls B movies anything other than that, and they're proud of it, it's time to start calling ***** games like GTA exactly what they are... Dog *****.
@Suda51ueda Hahaha… Please don’t make jokes like that. Microsoft buying ActivisionBlizzard is one thing. Having Sony buying Epic and owning Unreal Engine is an entirely different thing. Epic needs to stay mostly independent
@ItsBritneyB_tch "Chapter 2 Season 4"
I think that's about when I started, but I only played for about a month then came back when Chapter 3 started. At least that's about how I remember it. 🤷♂️
@Skeletor85 "the return of the OG map next week and combined with zero build"
Aren't they getting rid of zero build, or did I read that wrong?
I've been playing for a couple of years, hard to recall when I started, but I always play normal, but it's zero build for me b/c I really don't know how to build.😂
https://www.reddit.com/r/FortniteCompetitive/comments/17da2ia/possibly_no_zero_builds_next_season/
@rjejr I heard they are keeping zero build (they’re adding zip lines so the map is easier to navigate). They are also keeping sprinting/mantling.
@gollumb82 I consider myself a ‘hardcore gamer’ but I also love Fortnite.
@NinjaNicky because it started a major craze and fad that hasnt died yet, other games copying it , being influenced by it , trying to be like it. chasing the popularity and greed from its big success.
i dont even think people hate fortnite, they just hate the change in gaming it brought
Happy to play COD the rest I'll pass, surprised to see Minecraft isn't number 4 though.
Like many others, this list makes my skin crawl lol.
Yikes.
Holy damn not one game on that list do I like
Love all the people wanting to gatekeep what games people enjoy.
It really isn't bad that people enjoy games that you personally don't.
Like many I’m personally not a fan of most of the games on the list, but we all like different things, as long as people are having fun that’s all that matters.
More selfishly the masses eating up these games and pumping money into the games economy hand over fist keeps prices lower for everyone.
@Oz_Momotaro Xbox's top 10 are:
1. Fortnite
2. Starfield (Game Pass)
3. MW2 (2022)
4. GTAV Remastered (Game Pass)
5. Minecraft (Game Pass)
6. Roblox
7. Payday 3 (Game Pass)
8. Rainbow Six Siege (Game Pass)
9. Apex Legends
10. Party Animals (Game Pass)
Roblox will no doubt be in October's list for PS.
When games like Spider-Man 2 are $70 for 15 hours of gameplay what do people expect? Those games don’t have that much replay value and are expensive…People don’t have money to buy a new single player game every week. The average person is broke now. it’s a handful of whales basically buying everything now.
@ItsBritneyB_tch Ziplines would be nice. And I sprint a lot, almost always ending w/ a slide b/c I'm like the only person playing the game who doesn't jump everywhere, but I never could get the hang of mantling, parkour just doesn't work for me.
As long as it doesn't go first person, b/c if it does I'm just done. No hate or rant, I know a lot of people like FP view, but I just can't. 🤷♂️
Oh, and I'm glad someone called out that person about "hardcore". I feel like all of the people playing CoD and GTA all these years would consider themselves hardcore. And reading over the list surprised no MLB the Show or Madden up there but 2 NBA games. If this was Europe I'd expect FIFA not FIFA up there but not the US.
I'd be interested in seeing this list correlated with the ages of gamers. I get the feeling that the proportionally high amount of very young gamers had a big effect on these values.
The Europe list probably has some differences. Nba would obviously be FIFA.
I'd guess that call of duty is a bit lower down in Europe too, but that's only personal experience.
Not surprised at all. Minecraft is the only one I do care for and even then singleplayer and modded on P C or singleplayer and trophies/play a bit and move on for Vita (or PSVR for PS4) that's about it got so many games played or expe3rienced before or after Minecraft anyway. I had my flash game fix years ago so any mobile stuff means nothing to me other than emu or music apps. Everything else is singleplayer (bots if I care or testing games with free online multiplayer on WiiU/Vita/3DS), buying many retro or particular taste in current games not mainstream.
I bought GTA5 for the laughs in a retro game store for the singleplayer. Otherwise I'd never buy it I have no interest in the series and Liberty City Stories on PSP was ok but got awkward for me to play even as used to PSP controls.
I may do challenge runs/replays of old games but otherwise it's whatever I add to my backlog for each console and the odd current gen third party release on my PS4/Xbox One. The odd Switch game here and there.
I've played flash games and that's that. I may consider those on the Vita PS store as PSP Minis but that's about it. Otherwise it's games with cool mechanics, level design, fair stories/none at all any gen.
Haven't played a single one of those trash games, and never will...
So who in their right mind, made this list?
Fire them and hire someone new...
@KennethKoerperich88 They clearly did a horrible job making the list "KennethKoerperich88's Top Games". How did they screw it up so bad?
@mrraditch
Because this "younger" generation think gaming is going online, cheating, and zapping somebody else, or playing kiddie games.
We need more in depth rpg, action games....
This next year, from what I see being release, is pure trash...
Over 3 dozen games slated to release/tbd and only 3 of them even interest me..
Gaming has become, as most have said, about MTX and NOT actually gaming...
@Jacko11 Published by companies with established reputations (2K, Activision, EA, Rockstar, Epic) that already had a large share in the multi-player market prior to the live service trend. A lucrative market doesn't mean you're going to find yourself with a sizeable share, or any share at all (look at how many live service games shut down this year alone).
@Mythologue i’m not really sure how this matters in relation to my point.
PlayStation has a far more established reputation that everyone you named and if they committed to a live service with the PS quality, people would pay attention.
Regardless of existing market shares of other games.
There is always a bigger fish…
@Jacko11 Because they're all established brands, save for Fortnite and Apex. Call of Duty, GTA, MK, any choice of sports game, all perform well beyond the fact that they're just live service titles. It's because they were popular before.
New live service IPs from newly established studios probably won't survive much longer than a year. It's no coincidence that we always see the usual suspects on these lists.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...