diff --git a/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt b/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt
index f9c8fc2..866ff24 100644
--- a/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt
+++ b/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ class ConfigureTagResolversListener(
         val serverName = player?.server?.info?.name ?: "unknown"
         val ping = player?.ping ?: -1
         val pingColors = plugin.proxyPlugin.placeHolderConfiguration.get().pingColors
-        val onlinePlayers = plugin.proxy.players.size
-        val realMaxPlayers = plugin.proxy.config.playerLimit
+        val playerCountHandler = plugin.proxyPlugin.playerCountHandler
+        val onlinePlayers = playerCountHandler.onlinePlayersOr(plugin.proxy.players.size)
+        val realMaxPlayers = playerCountHandler.maxPlayersOr(plugin.proxy.config.playerLimit)
 
         event.withTagResolvers(
             TagResolverHelper.getDefaultTagResolvers(
diff --git a/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt b/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt
index 3e05d5b..fcd004b 100644
--- a/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt
+++ b/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/bungeecord/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt
@@ -54,15 +54,17 @@ class ProxyPingListener(
             }
 
             // slots
-            val onlinePlayers = response.players.online
+            val playerCountHandler = plugin.proxyPlugin.playerCountHandler
+            val onlinePlayers = playerCountHandler.onlinePlayersOr(response.players.online)
+            val realMax = playerCountHandler.maxPlayersOr(response.players.max)
             val maxPlayers = if (layout.versionSettings.slots.enabled) {
                 when (layout.versionSettings.slots.type) {
-                    MaxPlayerDisplayType.REAL -> response.players.max
+                    MaxPlayerDisplayType.REAL -> realMax
                     MaxPlayerDisplayType.FAKE -> layout.versionSettings.slots.fakeSlots
                     MaxPlayerDisplayType.DYNAMIC -> onlinePlayers + layout.versionSettings.slots.dynamicPlayerRange
                 }
             } else {
-                response.players.max
+                realMax
             }
 
             response.players = Players(maxPlayers, onlinePlayers, samplePlayers)
diff --git a/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/resources/config/config.yml b/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/resources/config/config.yml
index f8d68c6..749f299 100644
--- a/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/resources/config/config.yml
+++ b/proxy-bungeecord/src/main/resources/config/config.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,21 @@ whitelist:
   players:
     - Notch
 
+# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Player Count
+# Displays the summed player count for this proxy group and optional extra targets.
+#
+# Read more @ https://docs.simplecloud.app/manual/plugins/proxy-essentials
+# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+player-count:
+  # Additional SimpleCloud groups included in the displayed player count.
+  additional-groups: []
+  # Persistent servers included in the displayed player count.
+  additional-persistent-servers: []
+  # Player count update interval in ticks.
+  update-time: 20
+
 # ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Tablist
 # Configures tablist layouts and update intervals for connected players.
diff --git a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/ProxyPlugin.kt b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/ProxyPlugin.kt
index 1ad2565..9ca0cf4 100644
--- a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/ProxyPlugin.kt
+++ b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/ProxyPlugin.kt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.handler.CloudControllerHandler
 import app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.handler.JoinStateHandler
 import app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.handler.JoinStateResolver
 import app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.handler.MotdLayoutHandler
+import app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.handler.PlayerCountHandler
 import app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.handler.TabListResolver
 import java.io.File
 import java.nio.file.Path
@@ -36,10 +37,12 @@ class ProxyPlugin(
     val motdLayoutHandler = MotdLayoutHandler(File("$dirPath/layout").toPath(), this)
     val joinStateHandler = JoinStateHandler(this)
     val cloudControllerHandler = CloudControllerHandler(this, joinStateHandler)
+    val playerCountHandler = PlayerCountHandler(this).also { it.start() }
     val joinStateResolver = JoinStateResolver(this)
     val tabListResolver = TabListResolver { proxyEssentialsConfig.get().tablist }
 
     fun shutdown() {
+        playerCountHandler.stop()
         joinStateHandler.stop()
         cloudControllerHandler.close()
         motdLayoutHandler.close()
diff --git a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/OldConfigMigrator.kt b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/OldConfigMigrator.kt
index d7b3eb4..4e6887a 100644
--- a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/OldConfigMigrator.kt
+++ b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/OldConfigMigrator.kt
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ object OldConfigMigrator {
 
         node.node("version").set(CURRENT_CONFIG_VERSION)
         migrateJoinStates(joinStateNode, node)
+        node.node("player-count").set(defaultPlayerCount())
         migrateTabList(tabListNode, node)
         node.applyMainConfigComments()
 
@@ -436,6 +437,10 @@ object OldConfigMigrator {
         node("initial-state").comment(JOIN_STATES_COMMENT)
         node("whitelist").comment(WHITELIST_COMMENT)
         node("whitelist", "players").comment("Supports player names and UUIDs.")
+        node("player-count").comment(PLAYER_COUNT_COMMENT)
+        node("player-count", "additional-groups").comment("Additional SimpleCloud groups included in the displayed player count.")
+        node("player-count", "additional-persistent-servers").comment("Persistent servers included in the displayed player count.")
+        node("player-count", "update-time").comment("Player count update interval in ticks.")
         node("tablist").comment(TABLIST_COMMENT)
         node("tablist").childrenList().forEach { group ->
             group.node("update-time").comment("Update interval in ticks.")
@@ -489,6 +494,15 @@ object OldConfigMigrator {
         }
     }
 
+    private fun defaultPlayerCount(): Map<String, Any> {
+        val playerCount = ProxyEssentialsConfig().playerCount
+        return mapOf(
+            "additional-groups" to playerCount.additionalGroups,
+            "additional-persistent-servers" to playerCount.additionalPersistentServers,
+            "update-time" to playerCount.updateTime
+        )
+    }
+
     private fun Path.loadYaml(): CommentedConfigurationNode {
         return createLoader(this).load()
     }
@@ -506,8 +520,12 @@ object OldConfigMigrator {
             .insertBefore("initial-state:", JOIN_STATES_YAML_COMMENT)
             .insertBefore("whitelist:", WHITELIST_YAML_COMMENT)
             .insertBefore("    players:", "    # Supports player names and UUIDs.\n")
+            .insertBefore("player-count:", PLAYER_COUNT_YAML_COMMENT)
+            .insertBeforeInSection("player-count:", "    additional-groups:", "    # Additional SimpleCloud groups included in the displayed player count.\n")
+            .insertBeforeInSection("player-count:", "    additional-persistent-servers:", "    # Persistent servers included in the displayed player count.\n")
+            .insertBeforeInSection("player-count:", "    update-time:", "    # Player count update interval in ticks.\n")
             .insertBefore("tablist:", TABLIST_YAML_COMMENT)
-            .insertBefore("    update-time:", "    # Update interval in ticks.\n")
+            .insertBeforeInSection("tablist:", "    update-time:", "    # Update interval in ticks.\n")
     }
 
     private fun decorateLayoutYaml(content: String): String {
@@ -538,6 +556,22 @@ object OldConfigMigrator {
         return lines.joinToString("\n").trimEnd() + "\n"
     }
 
+    private fun String.insertBeforeInSection(sectionPrefix: String, linePrefix: String, comment: String): String {
+        if (comment.isEmpty() || contains(comment.trimEnd())) return this
+        val lines = lines().toMutableList()
+        val sectionIndex = lines.indexOfFirst { it.startsWith(sectionPrefix) }
+        if (sectionIndex == -1) return this
+
+        val relativeIndex = lines
+            .drop(sectionIndex + 1)
+            .indexOfFirst { it.startsWith(linePrefix) }
+        if (relativeIndex == -1) return this
+
+        val commentLines = comment.trimEnd().lines()
+        lines.addAll(sectionIndex + 1 + relativeIndex, commentLines)
+        return lines.joinToString("\n").trimEnd() + "\n"
+    }
+
     private fun createLoader(path: Path): YamlConfigurationLoader {
         return YamlConfigurationLoader.builder()
             .path(path)
@@ -563,6 +597,13 @@ object OldConfigMigrator {
             "Prefer permission-based access for regular users.\n" +
             "Use this list only for administrators or emergency access."
 
+    private const val PLAYER_COUNT_COMMENT =
+        "───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────\n" +
+            "Player Count\n" +
+            "Displays the summed player count for this proxy group and optional extra targets.\n\n" +
+            "Read more @ https://docs.simplecloud.app/manual/plugins/proxy-essentials\n" +
+            "───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
+
     private const val TABLIST_COMMENT =
         "───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────\n" +
             "Tablist\n" +
@@ -610,6 +651,14 @@ object OldConfigMigrator {
             "# Prefer permission-based access for regular users.\n" +
             "# Use this list only for administrators or emergency access.\n"
 
+    private const val PLAYER_COUNT_YAML_COMMENT =
+        "\n# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────\n" +
+            "# Player Count\n" +
+            "# Displays the summed player count for this proxy group and optional extra targets.\n" +
+            "#\n" +
+            "# Read more @ https://docs.simplecloud.app/manual/plugins/proxy-essentials\n" +
+            "# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────\n"
+
     private const val TABLIST_YAML_COMMENT =
         "\n# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────\n" +
             "# Tablist\n" +
diff --git a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/PlayerCountConfig.kt b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/PlayerCountConfig.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2bbe49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/PlayerCountConfig.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.config
+
+import org.spongepowered.configurate.objectmapping.ConfigSerializable
+import org.spongepowered.configurate.objectmapping.meta.Setting
+
+@ConfigSerializable
+data class PlayerCountConfig(
+    @Setting("additional-groups") val additionalGroups: List<String> = emptyList(),
+    @Setting("additional-persistent-servers") val additionalPersistentServers: List<String> = emptyList(),
+    @Setting("update-time") val updateTime: Long = 20L
+)
diff --git a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/ProxyEssentialsConfig.kt b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/ProxyEssentialsConfig.kt
index ecebb71..79609b0 100644
--- a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/ProxyEssentialsConfig.kt
+++ b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/config/ProxyEssentialsConfig.kt
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ data class ProxyEssentialsConfig(
         )
     ),
     val whitelist: WhitelistConfig = WhitelistConfig(),
+    @Setting("player-count") val playerCount: PlayerCountConfig = PlayerCountConfig(),
     val tablist: List<TabListGroup> = listOf(
         TabListGroup(
             name = "global",
@@ -37,4 +38,8 @@ data class ProxyEssentialsConfig(
         val ticks = tablist.minOfOrNull { it.updateTime } ?: 20L
         return ticks * 50L
     }
+
+    fun playerCountUpdateTimeMillis(): Long {
+        return playerCount.updateTime.coerceAtLeast(1L) * 50L
+    }
 }
diff --git a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/handler/CloudControllerHandler.kt b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/handler/CloudControllerHandler.kt
index 98dd371..7dcefe4 100644
--- a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/handler/CloudControllerHandler.kt
+++ b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/handler/CloudControllerHandler.kt
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ class CloudControllerHandler(
         null
     }
 
+    suspend fun getServerById(serverId: String): Server? = try {
+        plugin.api.server().getServerById(serverId).await()
+    } catch (e: Exception) {
+        logger.severe("Error retrieving server by ID '$serverId': ${e.message}")
+        null
+    }
+
     suspend fun getServersByGroup(groupName: String): List<Server> = try {
         plugin.api.server().getAllServers(
             ServerQuery.create()
@@ -198,4 +205,18 @@ class CloudControllerHandler(
             null
         }
     }
+
+    suspend fun getPersistentServersByNames(names: Set<String>): List<Server> {
+        if (names.isEmpty()) {
+            return emptyList()
+        }
+
+        return try {
+            val servers = plugin.api.server().getAllServers(ServerQuery.create()).await() ?: return emptyList()
+            servers.filter { server -> server.persistentServer?.name?.let { it in names } == true }
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            logger.severe("Error retrieving persistent servers by name: ${e.message}")
+            emptyList()
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/handler/PlayerCountHandler.kt b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/handler/PlayerCountHandler.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e5bbe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proxy-shared/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/shared/handler/PlayerCountHandler.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+package app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.handler
+
+import app.simplecloud.api.server.Server
+import app.simplecloud.plugin.proxy.shared.ProxyPlugin
+import kotlinx.coroutines.*
+import java.util.logging.Logger
+
+class PlayerCountHandler(
+    private val proxyPlugin: ProxyPlugin
+) {
+    private val logger = Logger.getLogger(PlayerCountHandler::class.java.name)
+    private val scope = CoroutineScope(SupervisorJob() + Dispatchers.IO)
+    private var syncJob: Job? = null
+
+    @Volatile
+    private var snapshot: PlayerCountSnapshot? = null
+
+    fun start() {
+        if (syncJob?.isActive == true) {
+            return
+        }
+
+        syncJob = scope.launch {
+            while (isActive) {
+                refresh()
+                delay(proxyPlugin.proxyEssentialsConfig.get().playerCountUpdateTimeMillis())
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun stop() {
+        syncJob?.cancel()
+        scope.cancel()
+    }
+
+    fun onlinePlayersOr(fallback: Int): Int {
+        return snapshot?.onlinePlayers ?: fallback
+    }
+
+    fun maxPlayersOr(fallback: Int): Int {
+        return snapshot?.maxPlayers?.takeIf { it > 0 } ?: fallback
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun refresh() {
+        try {
+            snapshot = resolveSnapshot()
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            logger.severe("Error while syncing player count: ${e.message}")
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun resolveSnapshot(): PlayerCountSnapshot? {
+        val snapshots = resolveCountSnapshots()
+
+        if (snapshots.isEmpty()) {
+            return null
+        }
+
+        return PlayerCountSnapshot(
+            onlinePlayers = snapshots.sumOf { it.onlinePlayers },
+            maxPlayers = snapshots.sumOf { it.maxPlayers ?: 0 }.takeIf { it > 0 }
+        )
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun resolveCountSnapshots(): List<PlayerCountSnapshot> {
+        val currentServer = proxyPlugin.cloudControllerHandler.currentServer
+        val config = proxyPlugin.proxyEssentialsConfig.get().playerCount
+        val currentGroupName = currentServer
+            ?.takeIf { it.isFromGroup }
+            ?.group
+            ?.name
+        val currentPersistentServerName = currentServer
+            ?.takeIf { it.isFromPersistentServer }
+            ?.persistentServer
+            ?.name
+
+        val groupNames = (
+            listOfNotNull(currentGroupName) +
+                config.additionalGroups
+            )
+            .map { it.trim() }
+            .filter { it.isNotEmpty() }
+            .distinct()
+        val groupSnapshots = groupNames.mapNotNull { resolveGroupSnapshot(it) }
+
+        val additionalPersistentServerNames = config.additionalPersistentServers
+            .map { it.trim() }
+            .filter { it.isNotEmpty() }
+            .filter { it != currentPersistentServerName }
+            .toSet()
+        val persistentServerSnapshots = proxyPlugin.cloudControllerHandler
+            .getPersistentServersByNames(additionalPersistentServerNames)
+            .map { resolveServerSnapshot(it) }
+
+        return listOfNotNull(resolveCurrentServerSnapshot(currentServer)) + groupSnapshots + persistentServerSnapshots
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun resolveCurrentServerSnapshot(currentServer: Server?): PlayerCountSnapshot? {
+        if (currentServer == null || currentServer.isFromGroup) {
+            return null
+        }
+
+        val server = proxyPlugin.cloudControllerHandler.getServerById(currentServer.serverId) ?: currentServer
+        return resolveServerSnapshot(server)
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun resolveGroupSnapshot(groupName: String): PlayerCountSnapshot? {
+        val onlinePlayers = proxyPlugin.cloudControllerHandler.getOnlinePlayersInGroup(groupName)
+        val maxPlayers = proxyPlugin.cloudControllerHandler.getMaxPlayersInGroup(groupName)
+        if (onlinePlayers <= 0 && maxPlayers <= 0) {
+            return null
+        }
+
+        return PlayerCountSnapshot(
+            onlinePlayers = onlinePlayers,
+            maxPlayers = maxPlayers.takeIf { it > 0 }
+        )
+    }
+
+    private fun resolveServerSnapshot(server: Server): PlayerCountSnapshot {
+        return PlayerCountSnapshot(
+            onlinePlayers = server.playerCount?.toInt() ?: 0,
+            maxPlayers = server.maxPlayers?.toInt()?.takeIf { it > 0 }
+        )
+    }
+
+    private data class PlayerCountSnapshot(
+        val onlinePlayers: Int,
+        val maxPlayers: Int?
+    )
+}
diff --git a/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt b/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt
index 1cb5fec..6d11af5 100644
--- a/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt
+++ b/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ConfigureTagResolversListener.kt
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ class ConfigureTagResolversListener(
         val serverName = player?.currentServer?.getOrNull()?.serverInfo?.name ?: "unknown"
         val ping = player?.ping ?: -1
         val pingColors = proxyPlugin.placeHolderConfiguration.get().pingColors
-        val onlinePlayers = plugin.proxyServer.allPlayers.size
-        val realMaxPlayers = plugin.proxyServer.configuration.showMaxPlayers
+        val playerCountHandler = proxyPlugin.playerCountHandler
+        val onlinePlayers = playerCountHandler.onlinePlayersOr(plugin.proxyServer.allPlayers.size)
+        val realMaxPlayers = playerCountHandler.maxPlayersOr(plugin.proxyServer.configuration.showMaxPlayers)
 
         event.withTagResolvers(
             TagResolverHelper.getDefaultTagResolvers(
diff --git a/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt b/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt
index eab3d29..b98c0df 100644
--- a/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt
+++ b/proxy-velocity/src/main/kotlin/app/simplecloud/plugin/proxy/velocity/listener/ProxyPingListener.kt
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ class ProxyPingListener(
         // player list (hover text)
         if (!isLocalPing) {
             val players = event.ping.players.getOrNull()
-            val onlinePlayers = players?.online ?: 0
-            val realMax = players?.max ?: 0
+            val playerCountHandler = proxyPlugin.playerCountHandler
+            val onlinePlayers = playerCountHandler.onlinePlayersOr(players?.online ?: 0)
+            val realMax = playerCountHandler.maxPlayersOr(players?.max ?: 0)
 
             val samplePlayers: List<SamplePlayer> = if (layout.playerList.enabled && layout.playerList.entries.isNotEmpty()) {
                 layout.playerList.entries.map { SamplePlayer(it, UUID.randomUUID()) }
diff --git a/proxy-velocity/src/main/resources/config/config.yml b/proxy-velocity/src/main/resources/config/config.yml
index f8d68c6..749f299 100644
--- a/proxy-velocity/src/main/resources/config/config.yml
+++ b/proxy-velocity/src/main/resources/config/config.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,21 @@ whitelist:
   players:
     - Notch
 
+# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Player Count
+# Displays the summed player count for this proxy group and optional extra targets.
+#
+# Read more @ https://docs.simplecloud.app/manual/plugins/proxy-essentials
+# ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+player-count:
+  # Additional SimpleCloud groups included in the displayed player count.
+  additional-groups: []
+  # Persistent servers included in the displayed player count.
+  additional-persistent-servers: []
+  # Player count update interval in ticks.
+  update-time: 20
+
 # ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Tablist
 # Configures tablist layouts and update intervals for connected players.