, generated more than $ 1 million twice in a week. Launched in early access in 2013, Rush is experiencing what many say is an increase in popularity for the “Among Us” style. Today, Garry Newman, founder of Facepunch and developer of Mod Garry’s, revealed that Rust earned more than $ 1 million in revenue in two days in the same week on Steam. At the time of writing, Rust is the most viewed game on Twitch, with 717,000 viewers.
We won over $ 1 million on Steam in two days this week pic.twitter.com/UTiqxgzdO0
– garry (@garrynewman) January 8, 2021
What is Rust?
Rust is a multiplayer survival game released on Early Access in 2013 and a full release in 2018. In Rust, multiple players are placed on a procedurally generated map, where they must clean and craft weapons and supplies to ensure their survival.While players often start games with just a stone and a torch, they can be used to acquire other materials and, eventually, create more sophisticated weapons, such as unique weapons and ammunition. Essentially, think of Rust as a really violent Minecraft PvP game.
Why is rust so popular now?
Although he has been a fixture in multiplayer games since 2013, Rust is experiencing a genuine increase in popularity, seven years after his initial early access launch. Facepunch revealed that Rust doubled his player count record on January 7, 2021, breaking a record that was set on January 3, 2021.
Rust on the way to double its previous high player count .. which was set to 4 days ago pic.twitter.com/1AP0hkJ6EH
– garry (@garrynewman) January 7, 2021
The explosion in popularity is attributed to a group of high-level streamers who started playing Rust together on a private server started by Offline TV.
The streamers list includes Shroud, XQc, Disguised Toast, Pokimane, Myth and more. Its streams have brought over a million viewers to Rust, and this exposure is translating into the player’s interest.
The Rust Private Server
Given the high profile of these streamers, the private server has become similar to a TV program with different streamers initiating competing factions and focuses. XQc, for example, leads a competitive PvP stable called Team Rocket.
THE OTV RUST SERVER IS VERY FUN IS EVERYTHING I THINK ABOUT. MY COMPETITIVENESS SUPPLIED ME AND I WAS RUDE TO NON-PVPERS. TOMORROW IS GOING BETTER AND TEAM ROCKET WILL OVERCOME
– xQc (@xQc) December 31, 2020
Other streamers on the server prefer role-playing over PvP and offline announced that it will run a second, smaller private Rust server with a focus on role-playing.
Rust was recently rated for consoles by the ESRB, which perfectly matches the newfound popularity. With home stay requests underway around the world, more players can discover Rust now. Check out IGN’s Rust analysis.
Matt TM Kim is an IGN reporter.