This free shooter is a blast and even surpasses Apex Legends

FragPunk, the new Valorant-style shooter developed by NetEase and backed by Xbox for the Asian market, has begun its journey exclusively on PC with notable success. In just 72 hours since its launch, the title has surpassed 100,000 concurrent players and has ranked among the top 10 most popular games, even surpassing giants like Apex Legends. And indeed, despite being free, much more is needed to rank among the most played.

A hero shooter with 5-player team battles

Unlike the common trend in free-to-play games, which often see a drop in players after the initial launch, FragPunk has experienced explosive growth. Its free trial phase, which attracted only 22,000 players, contrasts with the more than 54,000 who joined at the official launch. This staggering increase in the player base has surprised the industry, and it has continued to grow thanks to its appeal on platforms like Twitch, where it reached nearly 200,000 viewers at its peak.

The initial reviews of FragPunk were mixed, primarily due to criticisms focused on movement speed and the implementation of microtransactions. However, as more players have tried the title and adapted to its gameplay style, the ratings have improved, reaching 72% positive feedback on Steam.

This growing interest has been driven by word of mouth, with players recommending the title to friends and expanding its community. With a launch that, although distant from the craziest titles of the season, has managed to capture attention in a market saturated with hero shooters, the future of FragPunk looks promising. If the studio behind the game can maintain player interest with content updates and balanced adjustments, FragPunk’s rise could result in a lasting phenomenon.