UPDATED for 2026: The COVID-19 pandemic became one of the most significant growth periods in the history of digital entertainment. Steam’s surge in concurrent users during initial stages of the pandemic in early 2020, now stands as a defining moment for the platform.
As much of the world began practicing self-isolation due to COVID-19, one industry was—not surprisingly—moving full steam ahead: gaming.
Steam hit an all-time concurrent player peak of just over 20 million users in March 2020, according to Steam Database. The platform’s previous record of 19 million users, set just days earlier, was quickly surpassed.
What happened since 2020
While the concurrent online user record of 20 million was a milestone for Steam, the platform has recently broken the record by more than double, surpassing 41.8 million concurrent Steam users in January 2026.
Popular Games in 2020
Similarly, the most popular games on Steam in 2020 saw an upsurge in players. CS:GO inched up to 1,024,845 players for yet another record in recent weeks, Dota 2‘s peak player count went over 700,000 for the first time in four months, and PUBG has also seen 600,000 users log in.
Many of these titles have since undergone a transformation. Counter-Strike 2 was released in September 2023, to become even more popular than CS:GO on Steam. The immense popularity of the game also led to a surge of new esports betting platform sponsorships, funnelling the fresh esports title with even more funding.
Meanwhile, Dota 2 has remained remarkably resilient, now averaging more than 800,000 concurrent players, exceeding even its pandemic-era numbers.
At the time, the sharp increase in Steam’s active user base was largely driven by renewed measures to combat COVID-19. High-density public places across the world are being shut down, entire countries are entering lockdown, and offices are sending workers home.
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With the coronavirus outbreak officially declared a “pandemic” by the World Health Organization, minimizing contact with the outside world became a global priority.
Thankfully, Steam’s robust platform and expansive library of games made it easy for millions of people to stay entertained—and connected—while confined to their homes.
What began as a response to global lockdowns ultimately reshaped how millions engage with games, long after restrictions were lifted.
