Steam, the leading digital distribution platform for PC gamers, has shattered its own concurrent user record, reaching an unprecedented peak of over 40 million players. This milestone was achieved over a weekend that saw the highly anticipated launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, with Steam registering an astounding 40,270,997 simultaneous users. This new record eclipses the previous high of 39.9 million players set in February 2025.
According to SteamDB, Steam's concurrent user record, often viewed as a benchmark for the platform's success, has been consistently broken almost every month since May 2024. The concurrent peak has surged from 35.5 million to 40.2 million users within just six months. Notably, this figure encompasses not only active gamers but also those with Steam running in the background. The number of players actively engaged in games has also reached a new high, increasing from 12.5 million to 12.8 million.
Throughout 2024, Steam experienced significant spikes in player numbers, setting new records in March and July. The recent peak is largely attributed to the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds, which alone saw a 24-hour peak of 1.38 million concurrent users. Other titles like Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, Dota 2, and Marvel Rivals also contributed to the surge, with impressive 24-hour peaks of 1.7 million, 819,541, 657,780, and 268,283 players, respectively.
Despite its popularity, Monster Hunter Wilds has garnered a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance addressing PC performance issues. Additionally, Capcom has revealed preliminary information about Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub for players.
To kickstart your journey in Monster Hunter Wilds, explore our resources on what the game doesn't explicitly explain, as well as a comprehensive guide to all 14 weapon types. We also offer an ongoing Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough, a multiplayer guide to enhance your experience with friends, and instructions on transferring your character from the open beta to the full game.
IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, stating, "Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge."
