https://store.steampowered.com/charts/

Peak Online: 37,185,128

Date: 2026-05-19

A new record has been reached. And I feel like Saubnatica 2 and Forza Horizon 6 are partially responsible for this new peak. I don’t see anyone talking or posting about this new logged in users of Steam.

EDIT SECOND TIME: Today it just got a new record again!:

Peak Online: 39,532,653

Date: 2026-05-23

      • GeneralEmergency@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        3 days ago

        After killing the competition with exclusivity deals and shoehorning itself into physical copies as DRM.

        I know you weren’t born when that happened, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

          • GeneralEmergency@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            3 days ago

            Except they kinda did.

            They pay publishers to use Steam as DRM for physical releases.

            If you wanted to play the game on PC, you needed Steam.

            • doublah@sopuli.xyzEnglish
              0·
              3 days ago

              Publishers used Steam for physical releases because Valve takes no fee for CD keys, so it was cheaper for them.

            • thingsiplay@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
              0·
              3 days ago

              First, this is not what you said earlier, its a different statement. Also… where do you get that Valve pays publishers to use Steam as DRM? And therefore forces them a kind of exclusivity deal? No, Valve does not do that.

                • thingsiplay@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
                  0·
                  2 days ago

                  I ask again: Where did you get that idea from? Any source other than “trust me bro” statement? Valve did not, unless you can proof your extraordinary claim with an extraordinary source.

                  • GeneralEmergency@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    0·
                    12 hours ago

                    My own physical copy of Hitman Absolution. And the Steam code required to play a game with two physical discs.

                    Because Steam was used as DRM.

      • Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        0·
        3 days ago

        Steam is great and I love what they’re bringing.

        Still I’m trying to buy 50% of my games on GOG because no monopoly is good and Steam still has DRM’s and no real transparency about it.

        • Holytimes@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          0·
          2 days ago

          Optional drm. Its the developers fault if there’s no transparency. Valve doesn’t enforce any drm on any game sold on steam. Its entirely and only the devs choice.