Steam sets new concurrent player peak of 42 million

Steam reached a new peak of 42,042,778 concurrent players on January 11, passing 42 million for the first time, amid multi-year growth that accelerated after the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Steam reached a new peak of 42,042,778 concurrent players on January 11, passing 42 million for the first time. The platform has posted record-setting peaks more frequently in recent years. Steam has been active for over 20 years, and its popularity increased notably after the COVID‑19 pandemic. Average concurrent users have more than doubled since pre-COVID days. Key facts: - Peak concurrent players reported as 42,042,778 on January 11. - Wccftech reports pre‑COVID growth at about 4.5% per year, a surge to 31.5% in 2020, and roughly 13% in the years since. - Wccftech also reports December 2025 was Steam's best December for revenue, with recent breakout titles including Arc Raiders and indie hit Peak mentioned as contributors. - RoMonitor data indicates Roblox's current average sits below 20 million, while Roblox's all-time peak was reported as 47.3 million in August. - The article notes Epic Games Store has gained users through free game giveaways but has not matched Steam's revenue trend. Summary: The new concurrent-player peak underscores a sustained growth trend on Steam and stronger revenue results in late 2025. Valve has new hardware on the horizon, including a revamped Steam Machine and the Steam Frame VR headset. How those developments will affect concurrent player counts is undetermined at this time.