InZoi Publisher Addresses Declining Steam Player Numbers

Recently, Krafton, the publisher behind the popular game InZoi, has spoken out regarding its declining concurrent player counts on Steam. Despite a significant drop from the game’s initial surge, Krafton asserts that sales figures remain the most reliable indicator of the game’s success, especially given its nature as a single-player experience.

Initial Success and Record-Breaking Launch

InZoi made a remarkable debut on Steam, reaching an all-time peak of 87,377 players simultaneously. The game also achieved impressive sales milestones, selling over 1 million copies within its first week—a record for a game published by Krafton, a leading South Korean gaming giant. Just 40 minutes after launch, InZoi climbed to the top of Steam’s Global Top Sellers list based on revenue. At that time, CEO CH Kim expressed optimism about establishing the game as a long-term franchise, emphasizing Krafton’s commitment to its future development.

Decline in Player Engagement

However, the game’s player numbers have experienced a sharp decline since its launch. The 24-hour peak concurrency plummeted to just 1,477 players, and recent reports indicated that InZoi even fell below the player count of the long-standing simulation game The Sims 3 on Steam, which has been available for over 16 years. This has sparked industry discussions about the relevance of Steam’s concurrent player metrics for single-player titles.

Krafton’s Response to the Metrics Debate

When asked for a comment, Krafton dismissed the importance of Steam’s peak concurrent player figures as a performance measure for InZoi. The publisher emphasized that, as a single-player game, its success should be gauged primarily through sales data rather than player counts at any given time.

“InZoi continues to generate steady sales, and since it is a single-player experience, it is more appropriate to evaluate its performance based on cumulative sales at major update points rather than Steam’s concurrent player numbers,” Krafton explained.

Industry Perspectives on Player Metrics

The focus on Steam’s concurrent player counts has been a topic of debate within the gaming industry lately. Many developers and publishers argue that these metrics do not fully reflect a game’s overall success, particularly for single-player titles that are intended to be played over a long period or through periodic updates.

For instance, in 2024, John “Bucky” Buckley, community lead at Pocketpair—the studio behind Pocketpair—criticized the obsession with “dead game” narratives and player count metrics, calling this focus unhealthy for both the industry and gamers. Similarly, in April, Alex Bolle, production director of Helldivers 2, told IGN that Steam concurrent players are just “one of many metrics” to consider when evaluating a game’s success.

Current Reception and Future Plans for InZoi

Despite the decline in active players, InZoi continues to receive positive feedback from the Steam community, with reviews remaining “mostly positive” overall. However, recent reviews have become more mixed, likely influenced by the game’s ongoing Early Access status. Krafton clarified that the game is still in development, with their primary focus on gathering player feedback to enhance features, improve performance, and create a more immersive experience.

“Early Access is only the beginning for InZoi, and our team is just getting started,” Krafton stated. “We appreciate our dedicated community and look forward to delivering new content updates in the coming months.”

Upcoming Releases and Technical Enhancements

Krafton also announced that InZoi will be available on the Mac App Store and Steam starting in August. The Mac version has been optimized for the latest macOS on Apple Silicon, harnessing Apple’s MetalFX and Core ML technologies to ensure players experience the same high-quality gameplay as on Windows platforms.

As the game continues its development, Krafton remains committed to expanding its reach and refining the experience for players across all platforms.

Emma Blake

Emma is a tech-savvy news editor who thrives on staying ahead of the curve. With a background in digital journalism and media studies, she brings readers up-to-the-minute updates on gaming, tech, and entertainment trends. Emma’s writing is sharp, insightful, and always backed by credible sources. Her mission is to keep the community informed and curious about the fast-changing digital world.