Steam, the leading digital distribution platform for PC gamers, has shattered its concurrent user record by surpassing 40 million players simultaneously. This milestone was reached over the weekend, coinciding with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on Friday, February 28. Steam's new peak of 40,270,997 players eclipsed the previous record of 39.9 million set in February 2025.
According to SteamDB, Steam has been breaking its concurrent user record almost every month since May 2024, with the peak rising from 35.5 million to 40.2 million in just over six months. This impressive growth includes idle players—those with Steam open but not actively using it. However, the number of users actively engaged in a game also reached a new high, increasing from 12.5 million to 12.8 million.
Steam experienced significant surges in player peaks throughout 2024, breaking records in March and July. The latest peak is likely attributed to the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, which alone saw a 24-hour peak of 1.38 million players. Other popular titles also contributed to the surge, with Counter-Strike 2 reaching 1.7 million concurrent users, and PUBG, Dota 2, and Marvel Rivals achieving impressive 24-hour peaks of 819,541, 657,780, and 268,283 players, 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 announced details for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which will introduce an endgame social hub for players.
To help you kickstart your adventure in Monster Hunter Wilds, we've compiled essential guides. Learn what the game doesn't tell you, explore all 14 weapon types, and follow our detailed walkthrough in progress. Our multiplayer guide explains how to play with friends, and if you participated in the open betas, find out how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character.
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."
