Nioh 3 PC Launch Breaks Records with Many Players

Nioh 3 has had a very good start on PC. Almost 90,000 people played it at the same time soon after it came out. This is much more than before for the Nioh games. Many players are happy with the game.
By Newsroom | Video Games, PC |

Game's PC Launch Draws Nearly 90,000 Players, Surpassing Series Predecessors

Nioh 3 has seen a strong debut on PC, attracting close to 90,000 concurrent players shortly after its release. This figure represents a significant milestone for the Nioh series, more than doubling previous records for player engagement on PC platforms. The game's positive reception is further underscored by its high rating on review aggregators, indicating widespread player satisfaction with the latest installment.

Nioh 3 reaches almost 90,000 concurrent players on PC after launch, over doubling series record - 1

Context of Nioh 3's Launch

The release of Nioh 3 on February 6 marked a notable shift in strategy for the series, being the first title to launch simultaneously on both PC and consoles. Previous entries in the Nioh franchise were initially released as PlayStation exclusives, with PC versions arriving several months later. This simultaneous multi-platform approach appears to have been a key factor in the game's immediate success on PC. Early player data indicates that the Nioh 3 demo also hinted at the potential for a large launch, with its performance suggesting strong player interest.

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Nioh 3 reaches almost 90,000 concurrent players on PC after launch, over doubling series record - 2

  • Simultaneous Release: Nioh 3 is the first game in the series to be available on PC and consoles at the same time.

  • Previous Releases: Prior Nioh games were exclusive to PlayStation for a period before being ported to PC.

  • Player Expectations: The success of the Nioh 3 demo suggested a large player count at launch.

Player Count Benchmarks

Data gathered from various reports indicates a rapid increase in player numbers for Nioh 3 on Steam:

Nioh 3 reaches almost 90,000 concurrent players on PC after launch, over doubling series record - 3

  • Eurogamer: Reported nearly 90,000 concurrent players over the weekend.

  • GamesRadar: Acknowledged the record-breaking player count due to the simultaneous PC launch.

  • TheGamer: Noted that the player count reached 42,518 within five hours of release, and was almost four times higher than the original Nioh.

  • Technobezz: Stated a peak of 70,186 concurrent players within hours of launch.

  • VG247: Recorded a peak of 42,822 concurrent players shortly after launch.

  • IGN: Confirmed the game was the biggest Nioh release on Steam within hours of launch.

  • Beebom: Highlighted a peak of over 70,000 concurrent players within a day of release.

  • GamingAlly: Reported the game breaking series records on Steam just hours after release.

  • World Today Journal: Documented over 70,000 concurrent players within the first 12 hours, significantly surpassing 11,000 for Nioh and 41,000 for Nioh 2.

Analysis of Simultaneous Launch Strategy

The data strongly suggests that launching Nioh 3 simultaneously on PC has been a successful strategy. Historically, Nioh titles experienced a delay between their console and PC releases, potentially limiting their initial player base on the latter platform. The shift to a day-one PC release has allowed a broader audience to access the game immediately, contributing to the record-breaking player counts.

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Nioh 3 reaches almost 90,000 concurrent players on PC after launch, over doubling series record - 4

  • Audience Reach: A simultaneous release allows players across different platforms to engage with the game from day one.

  • PC Market Engagement: The high PC player numbers indicate a strong market for the series on this platform.

  • Developer/Publisher Strategy: This success may influence future release strategies for Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo.

Critical Reception and Player Feedback

Alongside its strong player engagement, Nioh 3 has garnered positive critical reviews. The game holds a "Very Positive" rating on Steam, with critics largely praising its gameplay mechanics, such as its "satisfying spin on the soulslike formula." Despite some reports of optimization issues on the PC port, many players appear to be overlooking these shortcomings due to the overall quality of the game.

  • Metacritic Score: The game is currently rated 86 on Metacritic.

  • Steam Reviews: Holds a "Very Positive" rating on the platform.

  • Player Sentiment: Generally positive, with praise for gameplay despite noted technical issues.

Conclusion and Future Implications

Nioh 3's launch on PC has established a new benchmark for the series, driven by a strategic simultaneous release across platforms. The significant number of concurrent players indicates a robust demand for the title on PC and suggests that this release model has paid off for Koei Tecmo. The positive reception from both players and critics, despite minor technical hurdles, points to the game's overall appeal. This success could lead to Team Ninja adopting similar release strategies for future titles and may also encourage further PC-centric development. The game's strong performance on Steam also places it as the number one worldwide seller on the platform, a testament to its immediate impact.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many people played Nioh 3 on PC?
Almost 90,000 people played Nioh 3 on PC at the same time.
Q: Was this a good launch for Nioh 3?
Yes, it was a record-breaking launch for the Nioh series on PC.
Q: Why did so many people play Nioh 3 on PC?
The game was released on PC and consoles at the same time, which helped many players get it right away.
Q: Are players happy with Nioh 3?
Yes, most players and game reviewers like Nioh 3 a lot.