The indie title How to Fish has emerged as a surprise hit on Steam, drawing significantly more concurrent players than the early access beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. According to Steam data, How to Fish reached over 341,000 concurrent players recently. Developer Dazed Games also announced that the co-op fishing game has sold over one million copies since its launch on August 20. Currently priced at just under $5 during its sale, with a regular price of $8, the game has found a substantial audience.
This player count easily surpasses the peak of 115,000 concurrent players seen during the initial PC beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which has seen a decline since. The Modern Warfare 4 beta was accessible to those who preordered the game on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. An open beta for Call of Duty is scheduled to run from August 28 to September 1.
How to Fish offers a physics-based experience centered on catching aquatic life, including cod and sharks. The gameplay involves various methods to dispatch the caught fish, such as punching, stabbing, or shooting them for in-game currency. This approach places it in a more lighthearted category compared to realistic simulation titles.
The game benefits from the support of Evil Landfall, the publishing arm of Landfall Games, known for its own surprise hit, the co-op climbing game. Both titles are associated with the emerging genre described as 'friendslop.'
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is slated for a full release on October 23. The game's beta included a campaign mission, a first for the series' trial periods, offering players potential rewards for the final release. The upcoming shooter is confirmed for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch 2.