Since its inception, Steam has established itself as a premier platform for PC gamers, and it recently achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 40 million users online simultaneously. However, this figure doesn’t translate to 40 million gamers actively playing at that moment — the peak for actual gameplay is just over 12 million — yet it’s still a remarkable leap from Steam’s early days.
As of this writing, Steam reached its historical peak within the preceding two hours, boasting an impressive 40,270,997 users. A large portion of these users are browsing the store or engaging in non-gaming activities, but millions are actively immersed in some of the most popular games available today.
Take Counter-Strike 2, for instance, which currently enjoys just under 1.3 million players, while over 1 million users are adventuring in Monster Hunter Wilds. These two titles are the clear frontrunners right now, with the next-most-played game, Dota 2, trailing behind at just over 600,000 players.
With numerous games attracting over a million players daily, it’s clear why Steam remains so successful. Even Amazon has acknowledged Steam’s dominance, with a former Prime Gaming executive admitting that the retail giant’s size wasn’t enough to topple Steam’s lead.
At present, the Steam Next Fest is in full swing (although it wraps up tomorrow, so if you haven’t explored it yet, this is your last chance). There are a plethora of demos available for gamers to try out at no cost, making it an excellent opportunity to expand your gaming experience with minimal risk.
If the demos don’t entice you, Steam is famous for its extensive sales — with the right tactics, you can snag a host of new titles without emptying your wallet.
Add in the popularity of the Steam Deck within the handheld PC market, and Valve has cultivated a formidable platform that shows no signs of slowing down.
