Summary
The PlayStation console exclusive gameFoamstars, available for both PS4 and PS5, is seemingly suffering from a dramatically reduced player count.Foamstarsis a 4v4 online party shooter game by Square Enix that initially drew comparisons to Nintendo’sSplatoonfranchise. It then gained even more attention when it was announced thatFoamstarswould be released as a free PS Plus game on the very day of its release.
Foamstarswas part of the free PS Plus lineupin February, which seemed to push many PlayStation fans to give it a shot. Unfortunately,Foamstarsearned mixed to negative reviews from critics, and it seems that the game has ultimately failed to keep fans engaged for any significant period of time.
According to a report by True Trophies,Foamstars' player count is down by a staggering 94%. It’s likely that the game’s player count was artificially inflated by its inclusion on PS Plus to begin with, but this is still a devastating blow to a game that depends on having an active community to sustain itself. SinceFoamstarsis a multiplayer-only game, no one playing it means that the game is basically dead in the water. However, there is still a chance forFoamstarsto mount a comeback.
History shows that multiplayer-only games tend to have a better chance at thriving when they are released as free-to-play titles. The choice toblockFoamstarsbehind a $30 paywallis likely playing a big role in keeping new players from discovering the game. If Square Enix were to switch to a free-to-play model, there’s a better chanceFoamstarscould establish a dedicated audience, especially if coupled with substantial new content updates for the game.
That being said, gamers only have so much time to dedicate to games, andFoamstars' lackluster reception means fans are more likely to spend their time playing other, better-received titles. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where PlayStation gamers would stop playing themega-hitHelldivers 2in order to playFoamstars, for instance. Not to mention, 2024 has been stacked with all kinds of big new games that will likely detract fromFoamstars, with PS5 gamers able to check out exclusives likeRise of the Roninand major third-party releases likeDragon’s Dogma 2andTekken 8. It’s true that there have been some incredible gaming comebacks over the years, but with the stiff competition and $30 paywall for a multiplayer-only experience,Foamstars' days may unfortunately be numbered.
