The Last of Us Part 1 doubles PS5 players in most played games chart

By Kes Eylers-Stephenson,

The Last of Us TV show on HBO has caused some mega resurgence for the controversial PS5 version of the PS3 game. The most popular PlayStation games chart also features the continuing slippage of God of War Ragnarok.

The Last of Us Part I is back in force with its brethren, The Last of Us Part II, after the release of the HBO TV show. However, neither managed to compete with the likes of Fortnite, Call of Duty, or FIFA in the most popular PlayStation games.

The Last of Us Part 1 came to PS5 with a muted response... until now!The Last of Us Part 1 came to PS5 with a muted response... until now!

The biggest news this week is that The Last of Us Part 1 has proved to everyone exactly why it was made: TV show and video game synergy works. It comes in at 15th, five places lower than its highest-ever finish in 10th. It comes in above the PS Plus Essential game of the month, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, in 16th — a pretty good marker to put down for the weeks coming. According to the NPD, sales for TLOU P1 are through the roof too, so it makes sense that our player count numbers would double week-on-week to align with the sales data.

If you thought that was the end of The Last of Us news, stop right there. The Last of Us Part II has climbed ten places in the chart, increasing its total player count by 32% week-on-week. As one of the best PS4 games, it's not surprising that it pings around the chart like a golf caddy chases the golfer, but this is a significant rise that could only be caused by general interest from the TV show. It's a strong TLOU week, all-in-all — and it's possible another rise will come next week.

God of War Ragnarok slips away from the top five most popular PlayStation gamesGod of War Ragnarok slips away from the top five most popular PlayStation games, again

The most noteworthy part of our top ten games is the continued slide of God of War Ragnarok as it goes from 6th to 8th and has a 13% player count decrease week-on-week. There is always a period of rapid descent as a majority of players finish a AAA single-player game, but God of War can be proud of this performance. Horizon Forbidden West was in seventh ten weeks after release, having already stepped down to 8th in the weeks prior. The pair seem to be on par in release tail players, only behind Elden Ring.

Across the rest of the chart, Back 4 Blood is back to mediocrity at 19th in the chart after releasing as part of the PS Plus Extra and Premium new games for January 2023. Devil May Cry 5 makes its first-ever appearance since we started collecting data landing itself in 24th, which will be considered to be much stronger than its PS Plus Extra brethren, given its status as a niche action game. Dragon Ball Fighter Z finishes with re-entry into 31st — though our Euro-centric data might not quite capture the American and Asian love-in this game gets.

That wraps up the analysis for the week. Are you loving The Last of Us on HBO? Let us know in the comments! Here are the top 40 most popular PlayStation games for the week ending January 22nd, 2023.

Most played PlayStation games chart (week ending January 22nd, 2023)

PositionGamePublisherLast week
1 iconCall of Duty: Modern Warfare IIActivision1
2 iconFortniteEpic Games2
3 iconFIFA 23Electronic Arts3
4 iconGrand Theft Auto VRockstar Games4
5 iconRocket LeaguePsyonix5
6 iconOverwatch 2Blizzard Entertainment7
7 iconMinecraft: PlayStation 4 EditionMojang Studios8
8 iconGod of War RagnarökSony Interactive Entertainment6
9 iconApex LegendsElectronic Arts9
10 iconTom Clancy's Rainbow Six SiegeUbisoft10
11 iconNBA 2K232K Sports12
12 iconDestiny 2Bungie14
13 iconGenshin ImpactCognosphere15
14 iconElden RingBandai Namco Entertainment11
15 iconThe Last of Us Part ISony Interactive Entertainment27
16 iconStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderElectronic Arts13
17 iconFIFA 22Electronic Arts16
18 iconFall GuysEpic Games17
19 iconBack 4 BloodWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentRE
20 iconMadden NFL 23Electronic Arts18
21 iconRed Dead Redemption 2Rockstar Games19
22 iconDead by DaylightBehaviour Interactive22
23 iconGran Turismo 7Sony Interactive Entertainment20
24 iconDevil May Cry 5 Special EditionCapcom Entertainment-
25 iconWWE 2K222K Games23
26 iconGhost of TsushimaSony Interactive Entertainment24
27 iconFallout 76Bethesda Softworks21
28 iconCall of Duty: Black Ops IIIActivision25
29 iconThe Last of Us Part IISony Interactive Entertainment39
30 iconEA SPORTS UFC 4Electronic Arts28
31 iconDragon Ball FighterZBandai Namco EntertainmentRE
32 iconHorizon Forbidden WestSony Interactive Entertainment26
33 iconMarvel's Spider-Man: Miles MoralesSony Interactive Entertainment30
34 iconDRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROTBandai Namco Entertainment29
35 iconCall of Duty: Modern WarfareActivision33
36 iconGod of WarSony Interactive Entertainment Europe32
37 iconCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarActivision37
38 iconBrawlhallaBlue Mammoth Games35
39 iconMortal Kombat 11Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment36
40 iconThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete EditionCD Projekt31
Chart compiled using gameplay data from over 3 million active PlayStation accounts. Chart information is copyright GameInsights.
The Last of Us Part 1 came to PS5 with a muted response... until now!
Kes Eylers-Stephenson
Written by Kes Eylers-Stephenson
Editor Kes is our resident expert in PlayStation and other gaming news. He writes about exclusives like The Last of Us and Horizon, PS Plus news, and his favourite games — The Witcher, Assassin’s Creed, and God of War — before an evening swim.
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