Steam had a busy week. From a massive MMO launch to a resurgence for a popular extraction shooter, last week delivered plenty of action across PC gaming. Here are the biggest numbers and stories worth knowing.
AION 2 Makes a Massive Entrance
The biggest launch of the week belonged to AION 2, which attracted nearly 400,000 concurrent players during its first week on Steam. The free-to-play MMO made an immediate impression, although its early user reviews raised concerns about monetization and AI-generated artwork. A huge launch, then, but the community still has questions.
Deadlock Breaks a Team Fortress 2 Record
Valve’s in-development multiplayer game Deadlock hit a peak of 262,145 concurrent players, surpassing Team Fortress 2’s recorded all-time Steam peak of 253,997. The spike coincided with new hero additions, giving the invite-only game another major moment before its full release.
ARC Raiders Gets a Second Wind
ARC Raiders enjoyed a substantial comeback following its Frozen Trail update. Steam player numbers climbed above 130,000 concurrent users, marking the game’s strongest activity in months. A major content update, a free trial, and a 50% discount helped bring players back into the extraction-shooter action.
The Week’s Biggest New Releases
October 5–11 also brought several notable launches, including Gears of War: E-Day, STAR WARS: Galactic Racer, and Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival. Early player data put Gears of War: E-Day ahead of Galactic Racer in peak concurrent players, while Hellraiser attracted attention from horror fans.
The Bottom Line
Last week showed three ways to make noise on Steam: launch big, keep updating, or build a dedicated community. AION 2 delivered the blockbuster numbers, Deadlock proved that an unfinished game can command a massive audience, and ARC Raiders demonstrated how fresh content can bring players back.
That’s your Steam Week in Review. Check back next week for more player-count milestones, standout launches, and the stories shaping PC gaming.
