Early Access Racer BeamNG.drive Reaches the PS5 Top Three in October Downloads

BeamNG.drive, a physics-based driving simulator still in Early Access, placed among the three most-downloaded PS5 games in both North America and Europe during October, according to Sony’s monthly PlayStation Store rankings. The game ranked second in the US/Canada chart and third in Europe after arriving on PS5 on October 19.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 led both regional charts. EA Sports FC 27 finished ahead of BeamNG.drive in Europe, while BeamNG.drive placed ahead of EA Sports FC 27 in the US/Canada list. The result therefore shows the driving simulator outperforming most October releases, not every new game in both regions except Call of Duty.

A top-three finish in two regions

Sony Interactive Entertainment published its October download rankings on November 4. The PlayStation Blog separates the results into PS5, PS4, PS VR2 and free-to-play categories, with individual lists for the US/Canada and Europe.

On PS5, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 took first place in both regions. BeamNG.drive was second in the US/Canada and third in Europe. EA Sports FC 27 took the third position in North America and second in Europe. Phantom Blade Zero ranked fourth in both regions.

The leading four titles were therefore the same on both lists, although the second and third positions changed. The rankings are notable because BeamNG.drive had only been available on PS5 for part of October. It launched on October 19, leaving less than two weeks in the month’s chart period.

Push Square highlighted the result, noting that the early-access driving simulator had outsold the vast majority of other October games across the two regions. Its report also made an important distinction: in Europe, EA Sports FC 27 was the one October release besides Call of Duty to rank ahead of BeamNG.drive. The Sony chart confirms the placements, but it does not disclose how many downloads separated the games.

A physics simulator arrives on PS5 in Early Access

BeamNG.drive is developed by BeamNG GmbH and is built around a soft-body physics system. Rather than relying only on scripted crash animations, the simulation models vehicle components and how they deform under forces and impacts. The game combines driving, vehicle customization and open environments, making it closer to a vehicle simulator and sandbox than a conventional track-based racing game.

The developer announced in September that the PS5 version would launch on October 19. It arrived in Early Access, meaning development is continuing and the available experience may expand through future updates. The release coincided with version 0.40, which added local split-screen multiplayer, physical vehicle occupants, a new truck and several optimization improvements.

The console edition does not yet include every feature available on PC. BeamNG’s support documentation says the PS5 version currently lacks mods, the World Editor and VR. Players also cannot transfer PC progress, saved vehicles or settings to the console version. The developer says it aims for feature parity where possible, but has not given a schedule for bringing those features to PS5.

Those limitations matter when interpreting the chart result. The game’s strong initial placement shows that a sizable number of PlayStation Store customers chose it during its first partial month on the platform. It does not establish that the PS5 version has reached feature parity with the PC edition or that the same level of demand will continue.

Download rankings are not sales figures

Sony’s monthly list measures PlayStation Store downloads, not total retail sales, revenue or the number of active players. The company does not publish individual download totals in the chart, so the ranking cannot show the size of the gap between BeamNG.drive and the games above or below it. Sony also notes that upgrades are excluded and that product names may differ between regions.

That distinction is important. A second-place ranking in the US/Canada list and a third-place ranking in Europe are clear indicators of relative download performance, but they cannot be converted into unit sales or market share without additional data. The charts also do not include every possible way a game could be purchased or played outside the PlayStation Store.

For BeamNG.drive, the immediate achievement is straightforward: its PS5 release entered the top three in both regions despite launching late in the month and remaining in Early Access. Whether it can sustain that position will depend on future updates, the addition of missing features and continued player interest. Sony’s published rankings establish the October result; actual download totals, revenue and longer-term performance remain undisclosed.