Returnal Performs Below Expectations on Steam

Expert Verified By

Returnal Disappoints On Steam!

PlayStation has become heavily involved in PC gaming over the last few years. Recent years have seen major PS4 releases like God of War coming to the platform, and more are planned for the next few months. 

Returnal launched exclusively for the PS5 in 2021 and is now available on Steam and the Epic Games Store, marking the latest PlayStation title on PC. Upon release, the game saw impressive critical reception, and many had expected Returnal to shine on the PC platform.

However, Returnal is shaping up to be a disappointing PC release for Sony, with less than 6000 concurrent Steam players on launch day.

Returnal Steam Players
Source; SteamDB

Returnal has seen a peak of 5700 players so far. This is a stark contrast to high-profile PlayStation games on PC. Big franchises like God of War and Spider-Man Remastered have seen over ten times as many peak players.

The game sold over half a million copies on PS5 in three months, which was still disappointing for a new PlayStation IP. This could have been a reason that contributed to the early release of the game on PC. 

Recently, PlayStation games have not found much success on PC. Games from renowned PlayStation franchises like Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection and Sackboy: A Big Adventure have performed poorly, and Returnal looks to be continuing this trend. 

However, similar to other PlayStation games, Returnal is also available on Epic Games Store. Many players may be choosing Epic Games Store instead of Steam, but Returnal has taken a step backward compared to previous PlayStation games on Steam.

Returnal comes with a bunch of new features for the PC platform. Upsacling techniques like DLSS and AMD FSR can be utilized, and the game also supports ultrawide displays. Additionally, the game is also compatible with the Steam Deck.

The PC port’s performance verdict is still out, but the game stands at a solid Metacritic rating of 87/100 for PC. However, it is disappointing to see several PlayStation releases underperforming on PC in a row, especially when so many PC gamers have taken a liking to PlayStation’s recent offerings. 

Read Next: Respawn Wants Apex Legends To Last For Two Decades

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Xbox Creator Says Performance And Power Irrelevant Now; Exclusives Matter Most For Consoles

Original Xbox creator Seamus Blackley says the narrative of powerful consoles no longer appeals to gamers; they want exclusivity instead.

Rocksteady’s Batman Beyond Game Reportedly Part of Trilogy Exclusive To PlayStation

A new report has surfaced, stating that the Batman Beyond game might be a PlayStation exclusive and is part of a trilogy.

RTX 5070 Ti To Suffer From Supply Shortage Just Like RTX 5080 And 5090

The RTX 5070 Ti is nearly ready to be released, but recent reports state the graphics card will fall victim to significant supply shortages.

Ex-Amazon Prime Gaming VP Talks How The Company Failed to Dethrone Steam For Over 15 Years

In a new LinkedIn post, former Amazon Prime Gaming VP talked their multiple attempts to dethrone Steam as the biggest gaming platform.

Former Sony Executive Says PS6 Launching in 2028 ‘Feels Right’

According to the former SIE executive, the PS6 launching in 2028 feels like the right move because the PS5 faced slow growth at launch.