The gaming platform Steam has set a new all-time record: 27,182,165 users were online simultaneously on Saturday, November 27. A higher number has never been recorded. We look at MeinMMO to see which games and circumstances are behind this. Games like CS:GO and DOTA 2 were mainly played, but also the MMORPGs New World and Mir4.
What was the previous record?
- The previous record was 26,922,926 in March 2021.
- In comparison, Steam added another 200,000 simultaneous users on November 27 at 3:00 PM our time.
What is to be noted? Of the more than 27 million users, only a part was actually playing: Only about 7.8 million were actively in programs. The rest perhaps browsed Steam for deals or simply left the program running in the background.
Shooters, MOBAs, and MMORPGs dominate the top 10
Which games were played the most? It is mainly the long-term favorites:
- The shooter CS:GO had 845,144 users
- DOTA 2, from Valve, reached 663,563 users
- The battle royale PUBG ranked third with 241,902 users
- Apex Legends has developed into a strong shooter
- In fifth place was the much-criticized but still popular MMORPG New World
- GTA 5 remains relevant through roleplay even years after release
- Team Fortress surprisingly makes it to the top 10
- The survival MMO Rust is still widely played
- The controversial “Pay to earn” game MIR 4 contributed to the record
- The “Wallpaper Engine” at number 10 of the most played “games” is quite a surprise
Omicron variant stirs fear of lockdown
Why is the record coming just now? Several factors are coming together:
- The “Steam Autumn Sale”
- The start of the holiday season around Thanksgiving in the USA
- A new variant of the Covid virus, the “Omicron” variant, is worrying many citizens worldwide
This is how it is being discussed: For some, the numbers on Steam are a clear indicator that Covid is becoming more threatening again at the end of 2021 due to the new variant. People are preparing for lockdowns.
On reddit , people are discussing the advantages of PC gaming: It’s crazy how the numbers on Steam have improved. 10 years ago, it was still at 4.8 million. The PC is on the rise, offering so many advantages. Even with outdated hardware, one can still play decently for years: There is a wave of excellent indie games.
Steam enthusiasts take the opportunity to emphasize: The ongoing success of Steam also shows what a flop the “Epic Game Store” is. The store and Epic CEO Tim Sweeney have often been in the line of fire.
Gaming developers say: Only Steam is worth it for us – Epic Games Store hardly brings anything
