Lost Ark surpasses 500k concurrent players in three hours - and it's not even properly out yet
The free-to-play launch comes later this week for Smilegate's game
![Lost Ark](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/casjT2XKovdEEm2rR3xbAH-320-80.jpeg)
Lost Ark has sailed past 500,000 concurrent players in less than three hours since it launched.
Yesterday, Lost Ark finally launched in the West for North American and European audiences, and it's fair to say it's been a big hit. In less than three hours since it first launched on Steam, the SteamDB database shows Smilegate's new MMORPG surpassed 500,000 concurrent players on the platform.
That's a pretty astounding figure for a brand new MMO. It's also worth noting that yesterday's launch was the paid-for debut of Lost Ark in the West, as the free-to-play launch is actually taking place in roughly 48 hours from now on February 11. It's quite possible we could easily see this concurrent player record shoot up once the free-to-play launch goes live later this week.
If you're unfamiliar with Lost Ark, it's the new MMORPG from Smilegate RPG, Smilegate's RPG-focused development subsidiary. The MMO actually launched all the way back in 2019, but was available exclusively to Korea. Now though, nearly three years later, it's finally available in the West, with Amazon Game Studios on publishing duties.
It's a little strange that this is the second MMO Amazon has helped debut in less than two years. You might recall that last year in mid-2021, New World debuted to a similarly staggering player count on PC, so much so that queue times lasted hours, and Amazon introduced expanded sever capacities for each world later in the year. If this early launch is anything to go by, Lost Ark could be another such hit.
Check out our best MMORPG guide for other gems you might've missed from the expansive genre.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.
Larian reminds Baldur's Gate 3 fans that Patch 7 isn't the RPG's final update, but it's not saying anything else yet: "The chefs must cook"
After Patch 7, Baldur's Gate 3 player finds new "impossible" evil ending that Larian cut from the RPG, where your Tav gets sick of it all and "peaces out" at the big finale