Outlast Trials Breaks 120K Player Record, 3 Years After Launch

Did you think The Outlast Trials was past its prime? Think again. Three years after its Early Access launch, Red Barrels' co-op horror game just smashed its own concurrent-player record, rocketing past 120,000 players. That's more than triple the previous high of 36,000 set back in 2023. Talk about a late-game glow-up.

So what's behind this sudden surge? Red Barrels points to a few big factors. First, the game is dirt cheap right now in the Steam Autumn Sale—just $4. But you'll need to act fast: that deal ends tomorrow, Thursday, October 8. If you've been on the fence, this is your sign.

Second, the game is blowing up in China. According to the studio, roughly half of those 120,000+ players are from China. That's a massive audience shift for an indie horror title, and it shows how global the Outlast fanbase has become.

And of course, Halloween season helps. Even though The Outlast Trials isn't one of the new horror games dropping this month, its terrifying co-op chaos fits perfectly with spooky season. Red Barrels shared the news on social media, and fans are clearly responding.

The game hit version 1.0 in spring 2024 and has been steadily growing since. Seasonal content and events have added new villains, abilities, maps, and more. You can play solo, but it's really designed for up to four players—and that's where the magic happens. As our review noted, you might trade some scares for nervous laughs when you're narrowly escaping monsters with friends.

What's next? The annual Geister event for Halloween is coming up, followed by Season 8 in December. That update will bring another major villain (a 'Prime Asset'), a new map, and more events. So if you're just jumping in, there's plenty on the horizon.

With a record-breaking player count, a killer sale, and a huge Chinese audience, The Outlast Trials is having a moment. Will you be picking it up before the sale ends? Let us know in the comments!