Steam Hits 40M Concurrent Players: Monster Hunter Rise Drives Record

Steam, the leading digital game distributor for PC gamers, has shattered its concurrent user record, surpassing 40 million players for the first time. This milestone was achieved over the weekend, coinciding with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on Friday, February 28th. Steam registered 40,270,997 simultaneous players, eclipsing the previous record of 39.9 million set in February 2025.

According to SteamDB, Steam's concurrent user count—a key indicator of the platform's success—has been steadily climbing. Almost every month since May 2024 has seen a new record, with the peak rising from 35.5 million to 40.2 million in just over six months. This growth isn't solely due to idle users; the number of actively engaged players also reached a new high, jumping from 12.5 million to 12.8 million.

Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Tier List

Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Tier List

Steam experienced significant player surges throughout 2024, breaking its record twice in March and again in July. The latest peak is largely attributed to the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, which saw a 24-hour concurrent player peak of 1.38 million. Other titles also saw impressive 24-hour peaks: Counter-Strike 2 (1.7 million), PUBG (819,541), Dota 2 (657,780), and Marvel Rivals (268,283).

Despite this success, Monster Hunter Wilds currently holds a "Mixed" user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance on PC performance issues. Capcom has also announced early details for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub.

To enhance your Monster Hunter Wilds experience, explore resources like our guide to the game's 14 weapon types and a walkthrough currently in progress. Learn how to play multiplayer with friends and discover how to transfer your beta character.

IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, stating: “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to refine the series' rough edges, resulting in incredibly fun fights, though lacking in significant challenge.”