Rust, the multiplayer survival game, recently hit a remarkable milestone with 262,284 users playing concurrently on Steam. This accomplishment comes a whole 11 years after the game first made its debut. The executive producer of Rust took to social media to share his excitement about this achievement, and also offered a glimpse into what’s to come for the game in 2025.
Launched in early access back in 2013 and then fully released in 2018, Rust throws players into the wild where they must gather resources and fend off various dangers to survive. Despite the continuous release of newer survival games, Rust has held its ground, largely thanks to the developer’s commitment to regular updates. This dedication has allowed the game to hit a new high over a decade since its launch.
In fact, Alistair McFarlane, Rust’s executive producer, shared this exciting news on Twitter, celebrating the game’s new record of concurrent players. The previous record, set at 259,646 players active within a 24-hour period, has now been surpassed. McFarlane expressed gratitude to the community for their ongoing support, acknowledging that the studio never anticipated breaking this previous peak. The game enjoys a “very positive” rating on Steam, with 87% out of 962,104 players recommending it. Following the announcement, McFarlane also revealed what players can look forward to in Rust’s future.
Looking ahead, the game’s official website teased the content lined up for 2025, while boasting impressive stats from 2024, including over 325 million game sessions and more than 5.5 million players. To keep the momentum going, they’ll be rolling out updates every month like clockwork on the first Thursday, packed with new content, essential improvements, and bug fixes.
One of the highly-anticipated updates slated for release on February 6 is the Primitive update, hailed by the developers as “one of the most impactful updates to date.” This update will introduce significant changes to Rust’s combat mechanics, expanding the arsenal with new weapons, vehicles, and game modes. Players can expect the addition of siege towers, catapults, ballistae, and battering rams. Horses are also going to see improvements, along with a batch of fresh skins for players to enjoy.
But the Primitive update is just the beginning. The developers are hard at work on a plethora of new features, including food management updates, fresh biomes, and hardcore game modes. There’s also a strong commitment to enhancing game performance and tackling cheating, ensuring that as Rust celebrates this new achievement, players will have plenty more content to anticipate.
For those new to Rust or considering diving back in, you’ll begin your adventure stranded on an enigmatic island with nothing but a rock and a torch. It’s a riveting experience where you’ll need to build shelters, find food, and brave the elements, all while keeping an eye out for other survivors who might not be so friendly. The island is yours to explore, filled with abandoned sites, mysterious monuments, and various factions. Whether you choose to join forces with others to build a thriving community or go it alone, there’s no end to the possibilities in Rust.
