A lot of you are gaming hard, it seems. Steam has been on a steady growth trajectory for years, with the Covid pandemic alone adding five million unique users in 2020. On January 1st, Valve's platform crossed the 42 million barrier, setting a new record.
Recent reports indicate the PC distribution platform has more than doubled its concurrent user average since 2020, with significant record peaks in activity becoming increasingly common. Previously, the record stood at 41.6 million users in October 2025.
This growth reflects an overall surge in popularity for Steam and PC gaming in the post-pandemic era. A quick data analysis showcases distinct growth phases: before the pandemic, the platform grew slowly at +4.5 percent per year. The lockdown year saw an explosive spike with a +31.5 percent increase, followed by stabilization phases now showing between 12.6 percent and 13.9 percent annual growth.
Last month marked Steam's highest-grossing yet, aided by hits like Arc Raiders and viral indie games such as Peak. The quality of recent Steam sales has also improved significantly, often competing against the deep deals found on other storefronts.
Additionally, the rising popularity of the Steam Deck, Valve's portable PC, has opened up PC gaming to many users seeking a simplified experience without the complications of traditional gaming setups. Despite its technical limitations, it has become a preferred option for many casual gamers.
Meanwhile, other platforms like the Epic Games Store have also experienced growth over the years, though most users typically flock only for the weekly free game offerings, showing reluctance to spend on a platform that lacks the depth of Valve's ecosystem.
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