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 recorded 40,270,997 simultaneous players, eclipsing the previous record of 39.9 million set in February 2025.
SteamDB data reveals a remarkable trend: nearly every month since May 2024, Steam has broken its own concurrent user record, climbing from 35.5 million to 40.2 million in just over six months. While this includes players with Steam open but not actively playing, the number of actively engaged players also reached a new high, jumping from 12.5 million to 12.8 million.
Throughout 2024, Steam witnessed significant player peak surges, 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 peak of 1.38 million players. Other titles also contributed to the overall surge, with Counter-Strike 2 reaching 1.7 million concurrent players, PUBG at 819,541, Dota 2 at 657,780, and Marvel Rivals at 268,283.
Despite this success, Monster Hunter Wilds currently holds a "Mixed" user review rating on Steam, prompting Capcom to release official guidance addressing PC performance issues. Capcom has also announced details for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub.
To enhance your Monster Hunter Wilds experience, explore our resources: discover hidden aspects of the game, master all 14 weapon types, follow our detailed walkthrough, learn how to play with friends in our multiplayer guide, and find out how to transfer your beta character.
IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds awarded it an 8/10, praising its improved gameplay but noting a lack of significant challenge.
