Steam, the leading digital distribution platform for PC gaming, has once again shattered its concurrent user record, reaching an unprecedented peak of over 40 million players. This milestone was achieved over the weekend, coinciding with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, 2025. Steam's new record stands at 40,270,997 simultaneous players, surpassing the previous high of 39.9 million set in February 2025.
According to SteamDB, Steam has consistently broken its concurrent user records almost every month since May 2024. The platform has seen a remarkable increase in its peak concurrent users, rising from 35.5 million to the current 40.2 million within just over six months. While this count includes idle players—those who have Steam running but are not actively engaged—the number of users actively playing games has also reached a new high, growing from 12.5 million to 12.8 million.
Throughout 2024, Steam experienced significant surges in player peaks, breaking its record twice in March and again in July. The recent peak can largely be attributed to the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds, which alone saw a 24-hour peak of 1.38 million concurrent users. Other titles also contributed to the high numbers, with Counter-Strike 2 seeing 1.7 million users, and PUBG, Dota 2, and Marvel Rivals achieving impressive 24-hour peaks of 819,541, 657,780, and 268,283 users, respectively.
Despite its popularity, Monster Hunter Wilds has received a 'mixed' user review rating on Steam. In response, Capcom has released official guidance to address PC performance issues. Additionally, Capcom has teased early details for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub for players.
For those eager to dive into Monster Hunter Wilds, there are several resources available to enhance your gaming experience. Check out guides on what the game doesn’t tell you, a comprehensive overview of all 14 weapon types, and an ongoing walkthrough. There's also a multiplayer guide to help you play 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.”
