Steam continues its reign as the undisputed champion of PC gaming in 2025.
This digital storefront and social platform not only connects millions of players worldwide but also drives incredible innovation and revenue within the industry.
If you’re looking to understand the massive impact of Steam and how you can leverage its extensive ecosystem, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ll dive deep into the latest Steam statistics for 2025, revealing its user base, financial success, and the trends shaping its future.
Steam’s Massive User Base: A Global Phenomenon
Steam boasts an incredibly active and growing community. As of 2025, the platform has 132 million monthly active users (MAU).
This represents a significant 10% jump from the 120 million users recorded just last year, showcasing Steam’s consistent expansion.
Think about that: 132 million people log into Steam at least once a month! This vast audience creates a vibrant marketplace for games and fosters a global community of players.
Daily Engagement: Millions Logging In Every Day
The engagement on Steam is truly remarkable. We see 69 million daily active users (DAU).
This means over 52.27% of Steam’s monthly active users check in daily, a testament to the platform’s addictive nature and constant stream of new content.
This daily engagement is crucial for game developers and publishers, ensuring their titles reach a consistent and dedicated audience.
Let’s look at the growth of Steam’s active players over the years:
| Year | Steam Monthly Active Users (MAU) | Steam Daily Active Users (DAU) |
| 2021 | 132 million | 69 million |
| 2020 | 120 million | 62.6 million |
| 2019 | 95 million | N/A |
| 2018 | 90 million | 47 million |
| 2017 | 67 million | 33 million |
Note: The latest official figures for Steam monthly and daily active users were recorded in 2021. While the numbers are likely much higher in 2025, these provide a strong baseline for growth.
Also read about: Gamers Statistics
Concurrent Users: Setting New Records
Steam frequently sets new records for concurrent users, demonstrating moments of explosive activity. In March 2025, Steam hit an all-time high with 41.2 million concurrent users online.
This was a 3.3% increase from its previous best in February 2025, highlighting continuous user growth. During that same month, the peak number of players actually in-game reached an impressive 13.19 million.
This means that at one moment, over 13 million people were actively playing games on Steam simultaneously!
Here’s a look at recent peak concurrent user numbers:
| Month (2025) | Peak Concurrent Players | Gain Percentage |
| September | 40,253,139 | 0.037% |
| August | 38,805,229 | -0.04% |
| July | 38,821,393 | -3.10% |
| June | 40,079,662 | 0.002% |
| May | 39,979,623 | -1.30% |
| April | 40,490,922 | -1.80% |
| March | 41,239,880 | 0.033% |
| February | 39,924,077 | 0.015% |
| January | 39,342,021 | 0.0006% |
| December (2024) | 39,319,632 | 0.027% |
| November (2024) | 38,271,280 | 0.004% |
| October (2024) | 38,104,203 | -0.70% |
| September (2024) | 38,367,277 | +3.0% |
This constant fluctuation, with overall upward trends, shows the dynamic nature of Steam’s user base, driven by new game releases, seasonal sales, and global gaming events.
Steam’s Financial Powerhouse: Billions in Revenue
Steam isn’t just about users; it’s a massive financial engine. The platform’s revenue soared to an all-time high of $10.8 billion in 2024.
This is a staggering 24.14% increase from the $8.7 billion reported in 2023, demonstrating incredible growth and profitability.
This revenue comes from game sales, in-game purchases, and the platform’s cut from transactions. For developers, this means Steam offers an incredibly lucrative marketplace.
For gamers, it means constant investment in new features, infrastructure, and a steady stream of new titles.
Revenue Growth Over Time: A Steady Climb
| Year | Steam Revenue |
| 2024 | $10.8 billion |
| 2023 | $8.7 billion |
| 2022 | $7.6 billion |
| 2021 | $7.4 billion |
| 2020 | $7.2 billion |
| 2019 | $4.5 billion |
| 2018 | $5.3 billion |
This consistent upward trend in revenue highlights Steam’s enduring appeal and its ability to adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.
What Are People Playing? Top Games on Steam 2025
The games available on Steam are as diverse as its user base, ranging from indie gems to blockbuster AAA titles. Understanding which games are performing best gives us insight into player preferences and market trends.
Best-Selling Games by Revenue
As of 2025, Borderlands 4 claims the top spot as the best-selling game on Steam by revenue. This highly anticipated title launched on September 12, 2025, and quickly captured players’ attention and wallets.
Here are the top 10 best-selling games on Steam by revenue in 2025:
| Rank | Steam Game | Steam Release Date |
| 1 | Borderlands 4 | September 12, 2025 |
| 2 | Counter-Strike 2 | September 27, 2023 |
| 3 | HELLDIVERS 2 | February 8, 2024 |
| 4 | No, I’m not a Human | September 15, 2025 |
| 5 | Dying Light: The Beast | September 18, 2025 |
| 6 | Marvel Rivals | December 6, 2024 |
| 7 | Dune: Awakening | May 20, 2025 |
| 8 | Hollow Knight: Silksong | September 4, 2025 |
| 9 | NBA 2K26 | September 5, 2025 |
| 10 | Path of Exile 2 | December 6, 2024 |
The list shows a mix of established franchises like Borderlands and NBA 2K alongside newer hits like HELLDIVERS 2 and promising new entries. This diversity keeps the Steam marketplace exciting for players.
Most Popular Games by Player Count
While sales are one metric, active player counts show which games are truly captivating audiences right now.
Counter-Strike 2 is currently the most popular game on Steam, boasting a peak of 1,818,773 players. Its competitive nature and constant updates keep players coming back.
Here are the most played games on Steam by all-time peak players:
| Game | All-Time Peak Players |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 1,818,773 |
| Dota 2 | 2,415,714 |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 3,257,248 |
| Banana | 917,272 |
| Marvel Rivals | 644,269 |
| NARAKA: BLADEPOINT | 385,770 |
| Path of Exile 2 | 364,548 |
| Wallpaper Engine | 150,375 |
| Rust | 262,284 |
| Source SDK Base 2007 | 244,395 |
Note: Some games, like Dota 2 and PUBG, show higher all-time peaks from earlier periods in their lifespan, but Counter-Strike 2 maintains a consistently high current player count.
It’s interesting to see “Banana” and “Wallpaper Engine” on this list, demonstrating that even non-traditional “games” can gather massive communities on Steam. This highlights the platform’s versatility.
The Ever-Growing Steam Library: More Games Than Ever
Steam isn’t just a platform; it’s an enormous digital library. The sheer volume of games released each year is staggering. Steam released 13,554 new games up to September 2025.
This follows a record-breaking 2024, where the platform saw 18,634 new games released, a whopping 31.75% increase from 2023. This constant influx of new titles ensures there’s always something new for every type of gamer.
New Games on Steam: A Year-by-Year Look
| Year | Games Released on Steam |
| 2015 | 2,823 |
| 2016 | 4,654 |
| 2017 | 6,932 |
| 2018 | 8,877 |
| 2019 | 8,079 |
| 2020 | 9,658 |
| 2021 | 11,266 |
| 2022 | 12,309 |
| 2023 | 14,143 |
| 2024 | 18,634 |
| 2025 (to Sep) | 13,554 |
This growth trajectory makes Steam an unparalleled platform for developers to reach a global audience.
Playtime and Ratings: What Keeps Players Hooked
Beyond sales and player counts, average playtime tells us how much players enjoy a game over the long term.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), even with its successor Counter-Strike 2, remains the most popular game on Steam by average playtime, with an incredible 903 hours.
This shows the deep dedication and replayability that competitive games offer.
| Game | Average Playtime |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 903 hours |
| Garry’s Mod | 295 hours |
| PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS | 203 hours |
| Terraria | 135 hours |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | 123 hours |
When it comes to quality, Portal 2 holds the crown as the most-rated game on Steam, boasting an average rating of 97.71%.
This critically acclaimed title showcases the power of innovative game design and storytelling. Only seven games have ratings above 97% on Steam, placing them in an elite tier.
Here are the top-rated games on Steam:
| Game | Average Rating |
| Portal 2 | 97.71% |
| Stardew Valley | 97.63% |
| People Playground | 97.47% |
| Vampire Survivors | 97.33% |
| Portal | 97.18% |
| Hades | 97.16% |
| HoloCure | 97.00% |
These high ratings guide new players to exceptional experiences and highlight the games that truly resonate with the community.
Steam’s Global Reach: A Diverse Community
Steam is truly a global platform, with users speaking a multitude of languages and hailing from every corner of the world.
Language Preferences: English Dominates, But Diversity Grows
English is the most common language used by Steam gamers, accounting for 36.87% of the share.
However, the platform is incredibly diverse, with other languages representing significant portions of the user base.
| Language | Share |
| English | 36.87% |
| Simplified Chinese | 23.81% |
| Russian | 10.31% |
| Spanish-Spain | 5.63% |
| Portuguese-Brazil | 4.08% |
| German | 2.96% |
| French | 2.38% |
| Japanese | 2.18% |
| Polish | 1.92% |
| Turkish | 1.64% |
The strong presence of Simplified Chinese and Russian speakers underscores the massive gaming markets in those regions.
Top Countries Using Steam
While the exact numbers of active users per country are constantly shifting, we can look at data on total Steam accounts. India, for example, shows a staggering number of Steam accounts.
Here are some of the countries with a significant number of Steam accounts:
| Country | Total Steam Accounts (Approximate) |
| India | 853.8M |
| Brazil | 148M |
| Indonesia | 112M |
| United States | 98M |
| Philippines | 88M |
| Mexico | 77M |
| Russia | 66.7M |
| Turkey | 60M |
| Egypt | 56M |
| Pakistan | 52M |
Note: This data includes Steam accounts created on or before 2021-03-24 with publicly visible profiles, so while numbers have certainly grown, it indicates relative distribution.
These numbers show Steam’s incredible penetration into diverse markets, with a total of 1.6 billion accounts across these top countries alone.
What Do Steam Gamers Use? Hardware and Software Insights
Understanding the hardware and software preferences of Steam users helps developers optimize their games and gives players an idea of common setups.
Gaming Peripherals: Controllers and Microphones Are Key
Gaming isn’t just about the PC itself. Peripherals play a huge role:
- 48 million Steam users utilize game controllers. This indicates a significant portion of the user base enjoys controller-friendly games, or perhaps connects their PC to a TV for a console-like experience.
- 100% of Steam users use microphones. This might seem high, but it implies that communication and multiplayer interaction are integral to the Steam experience. Every gaming headset has a mic, and many laptops include one, so almost everyone has the capability.
Video Cards: NVIDIA Dominates
When it comes to powering those gorgeous graphics, NVIDIA holds a commanding lead, with 74.83% of Steam users employing their video cards. AMD comes in second, while integrated Intel graphics also have a presence.
| Video Card Brand | Share |
| NVIDIA | 74.83% |
| AMD | 16.28% |
| Intel | 8.76% |
Within NVIDIA, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, a popular and long-standing mid-range card, is still used by 9.19% of Steam users, highlighting its longevity and value.
Processors: Intel’s Stronghold
For the “brain” of the PC, 71.34% of Steam gamers use Intel as their PC processor. While AMD has made significant strides in recent years, Intel still maintains a strong majority in the Steam ecosystem.
VR Headsets: Oculus Quest 2 Leads the Way
Virtual reality is a growing segment within Steam. 22.91% of Steam gamers using VR headsets opt for the Oculus Quest 2, followed closely by the Oculus Rift S and Valve Index HMD.
| VR Headset | Share Among VR Users |
| Oculus Quest 2 | 22.91% |
| Oculus Rift S | 21.58% |
| Valve Index HMD | 16% |
This shows that affordable, standalone VR options are helping to drive adoption on the platform.
Display Setups: Full HD and Multiple Monitors are Common
Steam users often have robust display setups:
- 71.82% of Steam users with multiple monitors have a desktop resolution of 2840 x 1080. This is common for ultrawide monitors or two standard 1080p monitors side-by-side.
- 67.29% have a primary display resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD). This resolution remains the most popular, offering a good balance of performance and visual quality.
Operating Systems: Windows 10 Still Dominant, Windows 11 Growing
While Windows 11 gains traction, Windows 10 64-bit remains the most commonly used operating system by Steam gamers, with a 63.46% share as of 2023. However, Windows 11 64-bit is rapidly catching up.
| Operating System | Share (as of 2023) |
| Windows 10 64-bit | 63.46% |
| Windows 11 64-bit | 30.33% |
| Windows 7 64-bit | 1.6% |
| Mac OS 12.5.0 64-bit | 0.52% |
| Others | 4.09% |
Mac and Linux users make up a smaller, but dedicated, portion of the Steam community.
RAM: 16GB is the Sweet Spot
When it comes to memory, 16 GB of RAM is used by more than half of Steam users, with a 51.74% share as of 2023. This amount of RAM is typically sufficient for modern gaming.
| RAM | Share (as of 2023) |
| 16 GB | 51.74% |
| 8 GB | 21.3% |
| 32 GB | 13.84% |
| 4 GB | 5.84% |
| Other | 7.28% |
As games become more demanding, we will likely see the 32GB share continue to grow.
Steam’s Impact on Developers: The Best in the Business
Behind every great game are talented developers. Steam showcases a wide range of game studios, from massive publishers to independent creators.
Valve, the creator of Steam, unsurprisingly holds the top ratings among game developers on the platform, with an 8.5 rating. Their commitment to quality and innovative titles like Portal and Half-Life has cemented their reputation.
| Developer | Rating |
| Valve | 8.5 |
| Supergiant Games | 8.44 |
| Klei Developers | 8.4 |
| The Behemoth | 8.36 |
| Free Lives | 8.35 |
| CDPR | 8.18 |
| Bethesda | 7.85 |
| Feral Interactive | 7.8 |
This list highlights studios known for their consistent quality and engaging titles, providing a benchmark for aspiring developers.
Quora & Reddit Insights: What Gamers are Asking About Steam in 2025
Beyond the raw numbers, the pulse of the community often reveals emerging trends and concerns. Looking at forums like Quora and Reddit, Steam users frequently discuss:
- The Future of Steam Deck: Many players are asking about new iterations of the Steam Deck, Valve’s handheld PC gaming device, curious about hardware upgrades, battery life improvements, and wider game compatibility.
- AI Integration in Steam Games: The role of AI in game development and gameplay is a hot topic. Gamers are discussing how AI might enhance NPCs, procedural content, and even generate personalized gaming experiences within Steam titles.
- Subscription Services and Steam: With the rise of game subscription services, users debate if Steam will introduce its own comprehensive subscription, or how existing services will integrate more seamlessly with their Steam libraries.
- Cloud Gaming Performance on Steam: While Steam is primarily a download platform, users are curious about improved cloud gaming options, especially for resource-intensive titles, and how these might be offered directly through Steam.
- Enhanced Social Features: Players often ask for more robust social features on Steam, including better community moderation tools, expanded voice chat options, and easier ways to find and connect with friends for specific games.
These discussions show that while Steam is incredibly successful, its community is always looking for innovation, better performance, and more ways to connect and play.
FAQs About Steam Statistics
1. How many active users does Steam have in 2025?
Steam boasts an impressive 132 million monthly active users (MAU) in 2025, with 69 million daily active users (DAU) engaging with the platform.
2. What was Steam's total revenue in 2024?
In 2024, Steam achieved an all-time high in sales revenue, reaching $10.8 billion, which represents a significant 24.14% increase from the previous year.
3. What is the most popular game on Steam by player count in 2025?
Counter-Strike 2 is currently the most popular game on Steam by player count, with an all-time peak of 1,818,773 concurrent players, demonstrating its massive and dedicated fan base.
4. How many new games did Steam release in 2024?
Steam released a record-breaking 18,634 new games in 2024, showing a substantial 31.75% increase from the number of games released in 2023.
5. Which operating system do most Steam users prefer?
As of 2023, the Windows 10 64-bit operating system is most commonly used by Steam gamers, holding a 63.46% share, although Windows 11 64-bit is steadily gaining popularity.
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Conclusion: Steam Continues Its Dominance in 2025
Steam’s statistics for 2025 paint a clear picture of a platform that continues to grow, innovate, and dominate the PC gaming landscape.
With 132 million monthly active users and an impressive $10.8 billion in revenue in 2024, Steam is more than just a digital storefront; it’s a vibrant, global community.
The platform’s ability to attract new players, consistently release a staggering number of new games, and adapt to evolving hardware and software trends ensures its leading position.
Whether you are a dedicated gamer, an aspiring developer, or simply someone interested in the world of digital entertainment, understanding Steam’s impressive statistics provides invaluable insight into the power and potential of this gaming giant.
The future of PC gaming undoubtedly remains intertwined with Steam’s ongoing success.
Source: Statista, SteamDB Charts
