By Dexerto | Created at 2025-03-09 19:16:43 | Updated at 2025-03-10 02:33:03
7 hours ago
FragPunk’s beta test and release day player count numbers were a bit underwhelming on Steam in comparison to other big releases like Marvel Rivals, but the game has gained a ton of momentum in the days following release.
It’s typical for a game to see its biggest surge of players at launch, especially in the free-to-play market. In the days after, it may grow slightly or earn players with a big content update, but many free-to-play titles see a massive drop in players once people decide whether or not the game is something they enjoy.
FragPunk, meanwhile, has had a bizarre trajectory. Only 22k peak players in its free playtest, 54k at launch, and now over 100K two days post-release.
After a bit of a slow launch, FragPunk has had a massive increase in player count and is showing no sign of stopping.
FragPunk gains momentum in the days after launch
FragPunk is a tactical shooter, somewhat similar to games like Valorant and Counter-Strike, but with much more emphasis on movement and goofy game mechanics. It plays like a blend of what you’d typically expect from a tac shooter with elements from hero shooters and a CoD-esque arcade shooter feel.
Though Steam reviews started mixed, with some players from the beta having gripes with how the game has changed since that testing period, reviews have rebounded and the player count has soared.
From 54k on launch day to 106k and counting days later, FragPunk has become a rare instance of a game seeing a drastic player count increase in the days following launch.
This may be in part due to several streamers playing it, with peak Twitch viewership nearing 200k as streamers gave it a shot. It could, however, also be due to positive word-of-mouth and people encouraging their friends to hop in and try it out for themselves.
Either way, this puts the game ahead of Apex Legends at the time of writing and makes it the 10th most-played game on Steam according to Steamdb’s charts.
If you’re just hopping into FragPunk yourself, check out our guides on how to get some of the game’s best crosshairs, as well as which Lancers you should be picking.
