Red Barrels' cooperative horror game, The Outlast Trials, has achieved a new concurrent-player milestone, reaching over 120,000 players. This figure dramatically surpasses the game's previous record of 36,000 players, which was set during its Steam Early Access launch in 2023. The recent surge represents a more than fourfold increase over its prior best performance.
The studio attributed this success to several key factors. A significant discount during the Steam Autumn Sale, reducing the game's price to $4, contributed to the player influx. This sale, however, concluded on October 8. Additionally, Red Barrels noted that approximately half of the current player base originates from China, indicating a substantial rise in the game's popularity in that region. The seasonal relevance of Halloween also provided a boost, aligning with the game's horror theme.
The Outlast Trials, which offers both solo and cooperative play for up to four players, officially launched its version 1.0 in the spring of 2024. Since its full release, the game has consistently received seasonal content and events, introducing new villains, player abilities, and maps. The game is currently celebrating its annual Geister event for Halloween. Looking ahead, the upcoming Season 8 in December will introduce another major antagonist, referred to as a 'Prime Asset,' alongside a new map and further in-game events.
The Outlast Trials has garnered critical acclaim and recognition, featuring on GameSpot's lists for best multiplayer horror games and best overall horror games. In a review, the game was described as being 'capable of being as terrifying as previous Outlast games,' with the caveat that while co-op play might diminish some individual scares, it often replaces them with 'nervous laughs' as players work together to evade threats.