The newly launched free-to-play shooter FragPunk is making waves on Steam, racking up over 110,000 concurrent players just days after its official release. Developed by Bad Guitar Studio, a division of NetEase subsidiary Thunder Fire Studio, FragPunk has quickly climbed the platform’s charts, securing a strong foothold in the competitive hero shooter genre.
Following a series of closed alpha and beta tests from mid to late 2024, FragPunk officially launched on PC on March 6. Just 72 hours after its debut, the game had already set multiple concurrent player records, peaking at an impressive 113,946 players on March 9. According to SteamDB data, this rapid rise placed it among the top 20 most-played games on the platform, ranking 16th overall.
While FragPunk has drawn praise for its vibrant hero-based gameplay and fast-paced action, its monetization model initially sparked backlash. The game features an extensive range of paid content, including multiple membership tiers, two premium battle passes, and nine different in-game currencies. These aggressive microtransactions led to mixed Steam reviews at launch.
However, just days after release, player sentiment seems to be shifting in FragPunk’s favor. The game’s Steam rating has improved from “Mixed” to “Mostly Positive,” currently sitting at a 71.15% approval rating from over 10,000 user reviews. This suggests that, despite its monetization practices, many players are enjoying the gameplay experience.
Controversy aside, FragPunk appears to be generating significant revenue. The game is currently ranked sixth on Steam’s Top Sellers list, which tracks overall in-game spending. It trails only behind Counter-Strike 2, Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, REPO, and Valve’s own Steam Deck in terms of sales over the past few days.
While Steam is likely the main driver of FragPunk’s success, its actual player base could be even larger than reported, as SteamDB only tracks publicly available data. Additionally, FragPunk is also available via the Epic Games Store, further expanding its reach.
Despite its strong PC debut, FragPunk’s console release remains in limbo. The game was initially set for a simultaneous launch across multiple platforms, but its PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions were delayed at the last minute. Bad Guitar Studio has yet to announce a new release date for these ports.
With its fast-paced hero shooter gameplay and an already dedicated player base, FragPunk is shaping up to be one of 2025’s biggest free-to-play multiplayer hits. Whether it can maintain its momentum in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, it’s clear that this new contender has carved out a spot in the FPS scene.
