PlayCounter vs Pyroblast

PlayCounter is a free Windows desktop app that automatically records playtime for recognized PC games across launchers. It displays a live session timer and saves a session when a recognized game closes. The library shows game covers, total hours, and session counts; history includes dates, session lengths, streaks, and playtime summaries. Users can track milestones, add notes, and keep separate playthroughs for each game. Listed sources include Steam, Epic, Battle.net, Xbox app, GOG, EA app, Ubisoft Connect, Riot Client, itch.io, disc installs, and standalone executables. Steam, Xbox, and Epic imports can bring in the playtime those services report; Battle.net import supplies a game list but no playtime. Sessions, notes, and history stay on the user’s PC, and the desktop app requires no account. It can run offline, though automatic game matching, cover images, and update checks need a server connection. The public installer is for Windows; the site says macOS, Linux, and console live tracking are not supported by that installer. The app sends a pseudonymous installation identifier at startup and about hourly, and process identifiers for online game matching.

Pyroblast is a browser-based service for bringing gaming activity from Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox into one profile. It detects and logs sessions without manual input, recording the game, start time, and duration. Connected libraries, playtime, achievements, and rankings appear together, with trophies and achievements collected in an achievement vault. Its Global Arena has boards for achievements, mastery of game difficulty, and lifetime play hours. Players can also review timelines, streaks, habits, play patterns, and a year-in-review recap. The service may generate AI-powered gameplay summaries, recommendations, and profile descriptions. Profiles can be public or private, and only public ones appear in the Arena. Pyroblast says it uses authorised platform APIs and permissions users grant, does not circumvent platform privacy settings, and does not sell or share data with third parties. It is free to start at free, with connections for Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. The terms require users to be at least 16 years old; the current homepage describes browser access, while desktop and mobile applications are described as future offerings.