Rust reaches a new player record 11 years after its release.

Rust, a multiplayer survival and sandbox game, has achieved a new record for concurrent players, reaching 262,284 users at the same time, 11 years after its launch. This remarkable milestone is attributed to an upcoming update known as Primitive, which will give the game a medieval twist. In this new version, usual resources like firearms and ammunition will be scarce, forcing players to engage in melee combat. Swords and crossbows will play a central role in the gameplay, complemented by shields for defense. Additionally, players will be able to use towers, battering rams, and ballistae to besiege their opponents.

Alistair McFarlane, the game's executive producer, celebrated the new record in a post and highlighted the steady growth that Rust has experienced in recent months. Before this record, the highest mark was 245,243 players in 2021. In his message, McFarlane expressed his surprise and satisfaction with these numbers, noting that they could likely only be matched under extraordinary circumstances such as another global pandemic. He also shared a video on YouTube summarizing the year 2024 and celebrating the game's eleventh anniversary.

More updates are anticipated, including a complete overhaul of the cooking system, a new biome, and various gameplay modifications. Although there is no precise release date for the new cooking system, it has been reported that the Primitive update will be available on February 6. For those who can't wait, the Staging Aux2 branch of Rust is already available to the public for play.

Rust is a challenging game; new players start on the beach with no resources, while others may already have established bases and will not hesitate to take what they can. However, those who manage to get past that initial phase will find a memorable experience worth having.