Top 20 most played games on PlayStation and Xbox: what does this mean for gamers?

In short

• The top 20 most played games on PlayStation and Xbox is made up mostly of live service titles and annual sports games.
• Fortnite is the clear number one on both platforms, followed by other popular titles such as Roblox and GTA 5 Remastered.
• On Xbox, Minecraft and Forza Horizon 6 are in the top 10, while those titles are absent on PlayStation.

GAME-scanner analysis

According to Mat Piscatella of Circana, who analyzed the data on weekly active users in the US, it is striking how similar the PlayStation and Xbox lists are. This highlights the dominance of certain franchises and the success of live service games, which keep players engaged for long periods. Fortnite, which has been at the top for years, remains an example of how a game can evolve and stay relevant in a rapidly changing market. The presence of titles like Call of Duty, which are more popular on PlayStation, also shows that platform preferences play a role in a game's popularity.

What does this mean for players?

For gamers, this means that choosing a platform is not only about exclusive titles, but also about the community and the games their friends are playing. The dominance of live service games like Fortnite and Roblox may also influence how new games are developed, with studios focusing on long-term engagement rather than one-time purchases. This can have both positive and negative effects on the diversity of offerings in the gaming industry.