Rust has been knocking around since the early '10's, 2013 to be specific.
We've seen similar games fall off dramatically, fading into the background as newer, more intricate titles take their place. Meanwhile, Rust just keeps on kicking, and recently set another player record as popular streamers grouped up on a private server for some shenanigans.
The game's previous peak was as lockdowns began globally, hitting highs of 125,000 players in April 2020. As of January 8th, a staggering 201,497 concurrent players switched the game on to play. That's not even the record, however; nope, the record was set at 244, 394 players logging on together on the 16th to bash each other with rocks and build homes of out wood and stone.
Streamers like Shroud, Pokimane, and XQc are thought to be behind the surge in interest, after setting up their own private server to play together, generating fun and engaging content. It seems to have done the job; along with peak player counts, Garry Newman, the founder of the studio behind the game FacePunch, announced via Twitter that the company had made more than $1 million in just two days.
It's undeniable proof that streamers and the communities watching them have a huge impact on a game's success. Last year, we saw similar events with titles such as Among Us and Fall Guys, and further back, with titles like Escape from Tarkov.
When we hear of companies shelling out millions for streamer support on their games and goods, it's easy to see why. There's a lot of eyes on streamers these days, and the numbers are growing all the time.
Have you been diving back into the survival-crafting game recently? What have you been building/breaking/fighting? Share your experiences in the comments!
Image: store.steampowered.com
