Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has achieved its highest player count on Steam since Season 1's launch in December 2023. In comparison to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from 2022, Modern Warfare 3 shows stronger player retention and growth.

Following the October 2023 open beta, Modern Warfare 3 was released on November 10, 2023, offering its single-player campaign, multiplayer modes, and Zombies mode. Despite facing criticism for technical issues and a lackluster campaign, the multiplayer component of Modern Warfare 3 remained a primary draw for fans considering the game post-beta. Notable improvements in gameplay and customization over Modern Warfare 2, along with maps from the 2009 release, attracted even lapsed Call of Duty fans. Consequently, Modern Warfare 3 became the top-selling game in the US during its launch month, surpassing Modern Warfare 2 in sales and player engagement.

As reported by CharlieIntel on Twitter, Modern Warfare 3 hit a new 24-hour peak player count on Steam in 2024, with 166,772 players on Sunday, April 7. Steam Charts show a nearly 39.6% increase in the monthly player count for Modern Warfare 3 on Steam, attracting an additional 47,288 players over the last 30 days. This new peak is the fourth highest for Modern Warfare 3 to date, marking the game's peak player count for 2024 thus far. Despite a slight decline earlier in the week, the Modern Warfare 3 community remains strong, with over 105,000 concurrent players on Steam alone.

Modern Warfare 3 Sets New Steam Peak Player Record for 2024

• 166,772 Steam players on Sunday, April 7
• Ranked as the fourth highest peak player count for Modern Warfare 3

Many players on Twitter attribute the recent surge in Modern Warfare 3's player engagement to a free trial period from April 4 to April 8. During this trial, players had unrestricted access to the game's multiplayer and Zombies modes, fostering collaboration between Call of Duty veterans and newcomers, resulting in increased player numbers across PC and console versions.

The launch of Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 on April 3 likely contributed to the game's heightened player count. Seasonal releases typically generate interest through new content and time-limited events. Season 3 introduced three new weapons, multiple aftermarket parts, significant weapon balance adjustments, and more to Modern Warfare 3.