Strong Start for New Free-to-Play Shooter on Steam

Overview of FragPunk’s Launch Performance

Upon its release on March 6, FragPunk attracted close to 114, 000 concurrent players on Steam within just a few days.
The game has quickly ascended to become the 6th Top Seller on Steam.
In a short span, user reviews for FragPunk improved from “Mixed”to “Mostly Positive, ”reflecting a positive shift in player sentiment.

Launched as a free-to-play first-person shooter, FragPunk has made a remarkable impact on Steam, hitting over 110, 000 concurrent players shortly after its debut in early March 2025. This surge in player engagement is not only impressive but also seems to translate into significant revenue gains for the game.

Created by Bad Guitar Studio, a branch of NetEase’s Thunder Fire Studio, FragPunk is designed as a vibrant hero shooter featuring two five-player teams. The game had previously undergone closed alpha and beta testing phases from June to October 2024, culminating in its full PC launch on March 6.

Just three days into its release, data from SteamDB highlights a steady rise in popularity. Throughout its first 72 hours, FragPunk reached new concurrent player highs daily, peaking at 113, 946 players and securing its position as the 16th most popular game on Steam by March 9.

FragPunk’s Steam Reviews Transition to ‘Mostly Positive’

An encouraging indicator for Bad Guitar Studio is the positive shift in FragPunk’s Steam user reviews, moving from “Mixed”to “Mostly Positive”within three days. Initial backlash stemmed from the game’s monetization strategies, which include multiple membership options, two premium battle passes, and nine distinct currency types. Despite this, it appears many early critics have reconsidered their opinions, as the feedback in subsequent days has leaned positively. Currently, the game boasts a commendable 71.15% positive rating from 10, 206 total reviews.

FragPunk’s Financial Performance Following Launch

Regardless of its monetization strategies, FragPunk’s revenue seems robust, with the game ranking sixth on Steam’s Top Sellers list, which metrics overall spending within the platform. The games that surpassed it during the second weekend of March 2025 include Counter-Strike 2, Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, REPO, and the Steam Deck, highlighting its competitive success.

While Steam provides insight into FragPunk’s current momentum, it is crucial to note that SteamDB only tracks public account activity, and the game is also available on the Epic Games Store. Initially, Bad Guitar Studio had planned for a simultaneous launch across platforms, but console versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S have been postponed without a new release date announced.

Source & Images