Steam, the go-to digital game distributor for PC gamers, has shattered its own concurrent user record yet again, reaching an unprecedented high of over 40 million players. This milestone was achieved over a weekend that coincided with the eagerly anticipated launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, 2025. The platform saw a staggering 40,270,997 players online at the same time, surpassing its previous record of 39.9 million set just a month earlier.
According to SteamDB, Steam's concurrent user records have been consistently broken almost every month since May 2024. The peak has escalated from 35.5 million users to 40.2 million within a span of just over six months. Notably, this figure includes idle users—those who have Steam open but aren't necessarily actively using it. However, the number of players actively engaged in games has also set a new record, increasing 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 latest peak is largely attributed to the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, which alone achieved a 24-hour concurrent user peak of 1.38 million players. Other popular titles like Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, Dota 2, and Marvel Rivals also contributed to the high with impressive 24-hour peaks of 1.7 million, 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 and has teased early details about Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which promises to introduce an endgame social hub.
For those embarking on their Monster Hunter Wilds journey, there are several resources to help you get started. From insights on what the game doesn't tell you to a comprehensive guide covering all 14 weapon types, you'll find everything you need. Additionally, our ongoing Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough, a detailed multiplayer guide to help you play with friends, and instructions on how to transfer your beta character are all available.
IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds scored it an 8/10, praising the game for refining the series' mechanics and delivering enjoyable battles, though noting a lack of significant challenge.
