By Sagar V. Mankar Once Human, the free-to-play multiplayer shooter from NetEase, has achieved remarkable milestones just one month after its global launch.
According to NetEase, Once Human has now been downloaded by over 10 million players globally on Steam.
Released on Jule 9 on Steam, the game offers a unique blend of survival and shooter elements, set in a post-apocalyptic world where players must fight to survive against other players (PvP) and environmental challenges (PvE).
This engaging gameplay quickly propelled the game to peak at over 231,000 concurrent players, making it the 6th biggest launch of 2024 in terms of peak concurrent users (CCU).
- Palworld — 2.1 million
- Black Myth: Wukong — 1.7 million+
- Helldivers 2 — 458.7k
- The First Descendant (free-to-play) — 264.8k
- Last Epoch — 264.7k
- Once Human — 231.6k
- Dragon’s Dogma 2 — 228.5
- Content Warning — 204.4k
- Manor Lords — 173.1k
- Enshrouded — 160.4k
- 7 Days to Die — 125.4k
This places it among some of the most anticipated games of the year, including Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, The First Descendant, and Dragon’s Dogma 2.
While Once Human didn’t surpass the peak CCU of some of its competitors, such as The First Descendant (264.8k CCU), it has shown stronger player retention. Over the past 30 days, the game maintained an average of 128.2k concurrent players, compared to The First Descendant’s drop to 77.9k average CCU.
This indicates that Once Human is not just attracting players but also keeping them engaged, a crucial factor in the long-term success of any multiplayer game.
Regionally, Once Human has dominated the Steam best-seller charts in key markets such as the United States, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.
Once Human was developed by Starry Studio, a subsidiary of NetEase, with a team of over 300 people.
Despite its success, Once Human faced some challenges at launch, particularly concerning its terms of service, which led to a mixed reception. However, NetEase and Starry Studio were quick to address these concerns, leading to a significant improvement in the game’s rating. As of now, Once Human holds a “Mostly Positive” rating on Steam, based on over 74.2k user reviews.
What’s Next for Once Human?
The future looks bright for Once Human, with several exciting developments on the horizon:
Mobile Launch: The developers are preparing to release Once Human on iOS and Android, which will include crossplay functionality. This mobile version is scheduled for release in September, potentially expanding the game’s player base even further.
Gamescom Participation: Once Human will be showcased at Gamescom from August 21-25. Players can visit the team at Hall 6 A-050 to experience the game and win special on-site gifts.
In-Game Celebrations: To commemorate the 10 million player milestone, Once Human is offering in-game gifts to players who log in before September 15, including Butterfly’s Emissary Crates, Starchrom Crates, and Stardust Source.
NetEase has also emphasized its commitment to a “no pay-to-win approach,” ensuring that all players have a fair and enjoyable gaming experience.
For more information, visit the official Once Human website. And remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more gaming news!