On December 8, Steam achieved a remarkable milestone by recording 39,205,447 concurrent players, surpassing its previous high of approximately 38 million set in September 2024. This surge in player activity can be attributed to the simultaneous release of several major titles, including the highly anticipated Path of Exile 2, Marvel Rivals, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. With the current trajectory, it seems inevitable that Valve’s platform will soon reach the coveted 40 million concurrent players mark.
Record-Breaking Releases
The launch of Path of Exile 2 into Early Access was a standout success, achieving a peak concurrent player count of 578,569 on the same day. Meanwhile, Marvel Rivals made a significant impact with its free-to-play 1.0 launch, reaching 480,990 concurrent players. Both titles have also gained traction on the streaming platform Twitch, climbing the charts and capturing the attention of the gaming community.
In addition to these new releases, established titles such as Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, and DOTA 2 contributed to the impressive player counts on December 8. Valve’s enduring classics, including Team Fortress 2, continue to attract a loyal player base.
Current Gaming Landscape
As of December 11, 2024, the top 25 most-played games on Steam reflect a strong preference for multiplayer experiences, particularly in the competitive shooter genre. Here’s a look at the current rankings:
- Counter-Strike 2
- Marvel Rivals
- Path of Exile 2
- DOTA 2
- Call of Duty
- Banana
- Rust
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Delta Force
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Throne and Liberty
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- Crosshair X
- Team Fortress 2
- Stardew Valley
- War Thunder
- Apex Legends
- Football Manager 2024
- DayZ
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
- Warframe
- Destiny 2
- EA SPORTS FC 25
- Factorio
- PAYDAY 2
While competitive multiplayer games dominate the list, the enduring popularity of single-player experiences like Baldur’s Gate 3 highlights the diverse interests of the gaming community. As the year draws to a close, it will be intriguing to see if Steam can break the 40 million concurrent player record, particularly as many gamers take time off and dive into their favorite titles.
