Summary
A recent statistic released as part of the massive Insomniac Games breach reveals that thePS3still has millions of active players, more than fifteen years after its launch. The high-profile ransomware attack against theSpider-Mandeveloper saw a plethora of details about both past and upcoming projects leaked. Early gameplay footage ofInsomniac’s highly-anticipatedWolverinegameleaked out to the public, reportedly even containing an alpha build of the upcoming game. Now, a recently discovered statistic from the breach contains some surprising data about the PS3.
While thePS3saw a rocky launch in 2006, following complaints from fans about its price point and lack of compelling games, the console significantly rebounded in its later years. The PS3 featured a plethora of iconic titles throughout its lifespan, ranging from theUnchartedfranchise toThe Last of Usamong others. The PS3 was also notorious for its complex architecture, with many of its most popular games likeMetal Gear Solid 4still only available via the console. Now, more than fifteen years after its launch, the PS3 reportedly still has a dedicated userbase.
As reported by PlayStation Lifestyle, the recent Insomniac Games breach featured some interesting statistics about the PS3’s playerbase. The breach revealed that, as of February 2023, the PS3 still reported a monthly active user count of nearly 2 million players. The player counts between December 2022 and February 2023 suggested monthly player counts on PS3 fluctuated between 2.3 million and 1.9 million during the three-month-long period. The number was likely buoyed by thelack of availability of many PS3 gameson modern platforms, with several PS3 games only available for streaming through PS Plus Premium.
PS3 Monthly Active User Count
Alongside the PS3’s impressive player counts, the data also shared monthly active user counts for both of Sony’s newer consoles as well. The PS4 boasted monthly active PSN user counts reaching 71.5 million during the same period, with the Sony platform standing as one ofthe best-selling consoles of all-time. The PS5 reported a monthly active user count of 37.1 million players by February 2023, according to the leak. The PS5’s impressive performance comes despite early supply issues for the console following its 2020 launch.
The PS3’s impressive monthly performance comes as many of its games have been made available through PS Plus Premium. The highest tier of Sony’s premium subscription service includes a wide library ofmany of the PS3’s most popular games, including the originalDemon’s SoulsandHeavy Rain. Sony has also frequently remastered games likeThe Last of UsandGod of War 3in order to make them available on its modern platforms. Despite the PS3’s age, the console continues to show a passionate and dedicated playerbase nearly two decades later.
PS3
The PlayStation 3 was Sony’s console for the seventh generation. Debuting in 2006 and discontinued in 2016 in North America, the PS3 had a rough launch but picked up steam during its twilight years. Along with the bulky launch model, Sony also released Slim and Super Slim versions of the PS3.
