Big Steam Launches of the Year: Path of Exile 2 Surpasses Diablo 4's Player Count

As the year comes to a close, the biggest Steam launches of the year have become increasingly impressive. The top two spots are held by Black Myth: Wukong and Palworld, with a staggering 2.4 million and 2.1 million concurrent players at their peak, respectively. These numbers are only matched by one other game, PUBG, which peaked at 3.2 million players.

Path of Exile 2 Takes the Third Spot

Recently, the action RPG Path of Exile 2 has surpassed Helldivers 2's concurrent player count, making it the third biggest Steam launch of the year. This achievement is even more impressive considering that Path of Exile 2 is still in Early Access, with a price tag of $29.99. The game's "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam suggests that it is a must-play for fans of the genre.

Path of Exile 2: A Next-Generation Free-to-Play Action RPG

Developed by Grinding Gear Games, Path of Exile 2 is a free-to-play action RPG that features co-op play for up to six players. The game takes place in the dark continent Wraeclast, where a sinister threat has begun to spread, driving people mad and corrupting the land. The game's official description reads:

"Path of Exile 2 is a next generation free-to-play Action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, featuring co-op for up to six players. Path of Exile 2 takes place in the land of Wraeclast, a dark continent populated by unique cultures, ancient secrets, and monstrous dangers. A sinister threat, long thought destroyed, has begun creeping back on the edge of civilization, driving people mad and sickening the land with Corruption."

Diablo Inspiration and Success

While Path of Exile 2's success may come as a surprise to some, it shouldn't come as a shock to those paying attention. The game's genre is incredibly popular on Steam, and the first game was a sleeper hit with great post-launch support. The 11-year wait between the first and second games only built anticipation among fans, and pre-order numbers on Steam indicated a massive success.

What's Next?

With its current concurrent player count of 459,000 and a "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam, Path of Exile 2 is a game to watch. Will it continue to grow and surpass its rivals? Only time will tell.