Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart peaks at less than 9k concurrent players on Steam, third worst PC launch for PlayStation game

Nhomnhom

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25 Mar 2023
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Crash 4 only has a peak of 454?!?!? šŸ˜¬šŸ˜¬šŸ˜¬ The difference between Rift Apart and those other games is that it's actually an extremely high quality game using bleeding edge technology, the stuff that justifies owning a good gaming PC, so just off of that alone it should've done much better.

Regardless, this is an even bigger L on Sony's part, they opened up their devs and platform to be ridiculed and disrespected to support a platform where there's little demand for these types of games? The rumors of Jim/Hermen being Microsoft sleeper agents might actually be true
All those expensive GPUs and they don't even bother buying what is now pretty much the best looking PC game that also happens to be pretty good to play.
 
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Bryank75

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What the fuck did I say?!

Told You So Comedy GIF by NETFLIX
 
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anonpuffs

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IJS, games like Among Us, Only Up, Wallpaper Simulator, Lawnmower Simulator, Fall Guys etc. didn't need to "build up a brand first" in order to sell and become hits. Now yes, maybe games like God of War and TLOU, or R&C aren't that common on PC but there's one of two ways to read that: either Sony has to acclimate that audience to those types of games (and the more aggressive they get at doing that, the more they risk devaluing the value proposition of the console), OR those kind of games just simply aren't of popularity on PC.

And if the latter, then it doesn't matter what Sony does because it will never be enough to help grow the actual player base for the ports on that platform. At least, as simply a publisher on PC. They would need to tie their games to an actual storefront & launcher they control, and leverage lots of vertical integration, in order to have a transformative effect. Preferably one that also accounts for any switch away from console, to cover the changes in revenue. But that could take years, and in the meantime they don't necessarily have to do the PC ports the way they currently do to build brand presence on the platform.

They could simply relegate the PC presence to select GaaS/live-service titles and leave it at that (and maybe spacing out any non-GaaS titles for several years, always ensuring an old entry doesn't get a port until a new installment is ready for console within a year's time).
Among Us cost how much?
Wallpaper Sim cost how much?
Lawnmower sim cost how much?
Fall Guys cost how much?

If you don't have a brand on PC and you want word of mouth to trend your game, you're gonna need the game to be cheap.

It's how The forest/Sons of the Forest sold millions of copies.
It's how Valheim sold millions of copies.
It's how Deep Rock Galactic sold millions of copies.
It's how Vampire Survivors sold millions of copies.
It's how Hades sold millions of copies.
It's how Don't Starve sold millions of copies.
It's how Subnautica sold millions of copies.

All these games you point to didn't cost $60. They cost $20-30 max.
 

Banana

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10 Jan 2023
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If it's not going to get them a lot of sales why do it? It's not like porting a game is a simple process it it was they wouldn't have fucked it up so many times.

It devalues their console, it devalues their IPs, it strengthens a competing platform. They give 30% to Valve and Valve doesn't give anything back, not even a port of Portal like they did for the Switch, Valve is obviously hostile to PlayStation.
It doesn't devalue anything because casuals don't care, and fanboys will buy it regardless.
what a colossal waste of time and resources. Seriously, Nixxes needs to get closed down ASAP. Devaluing your console for 9K bums on PC isn't smart at all.

PC needs to be fully removed from the PlayStation eco-system. It's a never was, and never will be failed initiative.

Port beggars will tear their hair out, but people will quickly forget this was ever a thing. Sony can sweep this under the rug, there's still time.

One thing's for sure: These PC port numbers are beyond abysmal.
The people who care won't forget though.
You also have to factor in the damage the whole ratchet on PC/SSD thing has done, in terms of marketing. You're directly countering your own marketing by launching this game on PC. It seems like such a dumb idea I seriously can't fathom how on Earth this game ever reached the PC in any form.

Beyond this being a technical showpiece, it's also linked to one of the main selling points of your hardware, the SSD. This game's exclusivity should have been protected at all costs.

Moreover, there's been about 20 ratchet games? All have been exclusive to playstation for the past 25~ years. There is NO MARKET for this game on PC, NONE.

Jim and Hermen really need a wakeup call. This is starting to become more and more ridiculous as times goes on.
most of the sales on PC were likely people interested in the tech. Most people on PC just buy games they find fun.
All those expensive GPUs and they don't even bother buying what is now pretty much the best looking PC game that also happens to be pretty good to play.
That's such a small segment of PC. Those are the type of dudes too poor to buy an M class so they cope with their 4k PC.

Most of us just buy games we think would be fun.

I think some of you never grew up from the 90s console wars. PC really isn't like that.
 
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Box

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what a colossal waste of time and resources. Seriously, Nixxes needs to get closed down ASAP. Devaluing your console for 9K bums on PC isn't smart at all.

PC needs to be fully removed from the PlayStation eco-system. It's a never was, and never will be failed initiative.

Port beggars will tear their hair out, but people will quickly forget this was ever a thing. Sony can sweep this under the rug, there's still time.

One thing's for sure: These PC port numbers are beyond abysmal.

Port beggers are an extremely small but very loud minority, they act like Bloodborne on PC would reach Elden Ring numbers. They are legitimately insane.

Just release GAAS type games like Destiney 3 or Marathon on Steam, PC players don't deserve PlayStation Exclusives.
 
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Darth Vader

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what a colossal waste of time and resources. Seriously, Nixxes needs to get closed down ASAP. Devaluing your console for 9K bums on PC isn't smart at all.

PC needs to be fully removed from the PlayStation eco-system. It's a never was, and never will be failed initiative.

Port beggars will tear their hair out, but people will quickly forget this was ever a thing. Sony can sweep this under the rug, there's still time.

One thing's for sure: These PC port numbers are beyond abysmal.

Nixxes was acquired in 2020. They do what SIE tells them to do. Why do they need to be closed down?

This is what I don't get, this port directly undermined the console and everything Insomniac and Cerny have been saying for the last 3 years..... Whoever greenlit this wasn't thinking straight.

Undermined so much that it proved that the PS5 is the place to play the game.
 

rofif

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24 Jun 2022
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Sackboy: 73 players now, 8757 peak.
Returnal: 105 players now, 6691 peak.

This is crazy. This is what huge discounts, piracy and gamepass did to people on pc.
People expect very cheap of free shit. They will wait until stuff gets in gamepass or free on epic.
PC gamers rarely buy new 60-70$ games. If they buy new games it's form cdkeys for 30-40$ (I know I do that).

You might think this is good, people are saving money.
Well no. Why would devs make good, single player games?
How much money can you spend on a game if pc players will wait for deep discounts, gp or pirate? What sense does it make?
Pc gamers are so used to being served, that they do not want to check out any different tastes.
You say "but elden ring sold 20ml"... well yeah and look at that? Demons is console only and Dark Souls1 was console exclusive and From never wanted to release it on pc. PC players are all proud for an essentially console game but don't want to try other console games?
It's strange because Returnal should sell well. Maybe a lot of those people also have a ps5?

I am happy buying 60-70$ new games on ps5. I support day1 games I want and devs I care about. There is no better feeling than unboxing new game on it's release day after picking it up brand new.
 

rofif

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You are rebuying the games on PC?

To me it's just obvious that PC players are a completely different audience. Even games like Spider-man, God of War and TLoU sold poorly for what they are.

30% cut paid to Valve, all the costs of porting them, the cost of spending months fixing those ports, the cost of exposing PS game to easilly be pirated, the loss of one of PlayStation most unique draws.

PC ports are just Sony sabotaging the PlayStation. At least MS had theie own store and were supporting Windows and their APIs.
I am a life pc gamer who converted to console around the 360. I still game on both.
There is no difference between pc vs console games and tastes. Good game is a good game.
It's just that these type of games rarely release on pc. Historically platformers released more on console... but that didn't stop me from having fun and cecking our rift apart on ps5. I don't play a lot of platformers.

But returnal? Should be hot cakes.

Good game is a good game. What the hell is a console game or a pc game? Demons Souls and Dark souls was a console genre. Then it got to pc and got on of biggest genres on pc. It's all the same players. they just have to try and check new games out but they are stubborn in their pc ways
 

rofif

...owns a 3080...why?
24 Jun 2022
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Disagree that JP execs are conservative. See Squenix re: NFTs. What JP execs would do, ideally, is bring back a commitment to excellence. I

I double dip when I like a game, yeah. Tbh I haven't bought any Sony 1p games on steam yet because I've been satisfied with the performance on ps5, and I have a huge backlog atm. I'll probably pick up Returnal eventually though, and ofc Bloodborne day one. I do think the types of games that Sony makes aren't that suited to PC. Exceptions being spiderman, horizon, days gone, maybe ghost of tsushima. I think helldivers did decently as well.
I don't double dip on pc. Only did on 360 and some on ps4.
I prefer to own the physical boxed version and usually the difference ps5 to pc is negligible or ps5 version is still better.
If bloodborne remaster comes, I will get it on pc unless it's totally busted
 

Impulse

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21 Apr 2023
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Mad respect for 'ya bud, but it's clear this PC initiative is not going the way Sony projected. They misread the market there.
How?

This is going almost exactly as they projected it. They are essentially making a 2nd money run on a game that already made it's money on their console. All the money they make here is incremental with 0 cannibalization of their PS5 sales. Steam titles have a longer tail because of sales and key site deals.

This is the equivalent of a film title going on home video and making an additional bundle of money there after its theatrical run. The port was also done in-house, so probably costs less than outsourcing too.
 

VillaiN

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Pc gaming money s overhyped.

Biggest aaa titles dont move more than few millions. Darks souls 3 moved about 5M after years of sales, discount etc. Apparently its huge on pc. I doubt elden ring moved anything more than 5,6M on pc.

Majority of games move around 2,3M.

Even with 20,30 price whats left for publishers and studios?

Skyrim selling for 8 euros for years isnt that impressive. Sure any money s good especially for smaller player but for big players? Its a joke. Add port cost, studio, devs....

Im certain without consoles 80% of big publishers from ubisoft to ea would die relying on pc.

Sony need to accept L and stop with these ports. Maybe new management ll do it.

Spiderman ll sell 6M week one. Thats 400M. Lt it ll do over billion.
 

Nhomnhom

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Pc gaming money s overhyped.

Biggest aaa titles dont move more than few millions. Darks souls 3 moved about 5M after years of sales, discount etc. Apparently its huge on pc. I doubt elden ring moved anything more than 5,6M on pc.

Majority of games move around 2,3M.

Even with 20,30 price whats left for publishers and studios?

Skyrim selling for 8 euros for years isnt that impressive. Sure any money s good especially for smaller player but for big players? Its a joke. Add port cost, studio, devs....

Im certain without consoles 80% of big publishers from ubisoft to ea would die relying on pc.

Sony need to accept L and stop with these ports. Maybe new management ll do it.

Spiderman ll sell 6M week one. Thats 400M. Lt it ll do over billion.
Cyberpunk is sort of the exception, even TW3 sold more on PlayStation early on and only sold more on PC once it was dirt cheap.

PC is all about multiplayer, F2P, piracy and very niche games, it was never about that blockbuster console AAA experience.

Now that PS5 isn't supply constrained PC ports make zero sense with very few exceptions like GaaS/F2P/multiplayer games.

Non crossgen games should never have been ported and Nixxes should just go work on PS5 ports of games like Bloodborne, Resistance, etc.
 
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Zzero

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This makes Rift Apart the third worst launch on PC for a PlayStation game, only above Returnal (6,691 CCU) and Sackboy: A Big Adventure (610 CCU). There is also a PC version of Helldivers, with 6,744 peak CCU, but its developer Arrowhead is not SIEā€™s first-party studio.
Helldivers is GaaS, right? Because that sounds pretty dire for them.
 

Umar

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Family Friendly Platformers like Sackboy and Ratchet and Clank just arent made for the Pc audience
 
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Yurinka

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Among Us cost how much?
Wallpaper Sim cost how much?
Lawnmower sim cost how much?
Fall Guys cost how much?

If you don't have a brand on PC and you want word of mouth to trend your game, you're gonna need the game to be cheap.

It's how The forest/Sons of the Forest sold millions of copies.
It's how Valheim sold millions of copies.
It's how Deep Rock Galactic sold millions of copies.
It's how Vampire Survivors sold millions of copies.
It's how Hades sold millions of copies.
It's how Don't Starve sold millions of copies.
It's how Subnautica sold millions of copies.

All these games you point to didn't cost $60. They cost $20-30 max.
It's also worth mentioning that these games are ultra rare exceptions whose sales performance are totally different and way bigger than the 99.99% of the PC games, specially indies.

Pc gaming money s overhyped.
Wrong. PC gaming generates more game revenue than PS. And specifically for Sony, a few overpriced ports of old games generated them hundreds of millions in a few years, and since ports are very cheap compared to a brand new AAA title, they are very profitable for them.

Helldivers is GaaS, right? Because that sounds pretty dire for them.
Helldivers 2 yes, Helldivers 1 no. Helldivers 1 was also a top down shooter, Helldivers 2 is a more AAA 3rd person shooter.
 
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Vertigo

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Helldivers 2ā€™s model has yet to be revealed. It could mostly just be the first game converted to third person. I wonā€™t be to quick to label it GaaS with the stigmaā€™s attached to semantics.

It could just be a co-op game launch with dlc support and expansions planned based on success for continued support passed that. Which then would enter the ā€œserviceā€ phase if thereā€™s a playerbase

You donā€™t need to launch with a seasonal model, etcā€¦ most around did not start like this.

1st gameā€™s sales are sorta irrelevant aside from having some kind of name recognition. Totally different and way bigger expectations for the sequel. The first Helldivers was an indie game. This is not. More than a relaunch but not quite a new IP.
 
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