Stellaris Player Count: Is Stellaris Dead? (Oct 2026)
Nick Guli|Stellaris has 9,050 concurrent players on Steam right now (03:30 UTC on Oct 15, 2026). In the last 24 hours it peaked at 14,245 players, and over the past 30 days it has averaged 11,370 players at any given moment.
| Playing right now | 9,050 |
| 24-hour peak | 14,245 |
| 7-day average | 11,935 |
| 30-day average | 11,370 |
| 30-day peak | 19,411 |
| Change vs previous 30 days | +7% |
| Highest we have recorded | 29,782 (Jun 21, 2026) |
Stellaris player count history
| Month | Average players | Peak players | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 (so far) | 12,252 | 19,411 | +17% |
| Sep 2026 | 10,503 | 18,873 | -4% |
| Aug 2026 | 10,886 | 16,562 | -20% |
| Jul 2026 | 13,620 | 23,577 | -12% |
| Jun 2026 | 15,479 | 29,782 | +3% |
| May 2026 | 15,024 | 24,262 | +12% |
| Apr 2026 | 13,432 | 21,075 | -5% |
| Mar 2026 | 14,120 | 21,754 | – |
Is Stellaris dead?
No. Stellaris averages 11,370 concurrent players on Steam and the trend is fairly steady (up 7% on the previous 30 days).
Stellaris keeps players engaged with its vibrant community. The average number of players over the last 30 days increased by 7% compared to the previous month. However, it’s still down 31% from three months ago. The peak player count hit 29,782 on June 21, 2026, but the community has settled below that since then.
In August 2026, the game saw a notable drop. The monthly average plummeted by 20% from the previous month. This decline aligned with a Paradox post on August 20 discussing summer experiments, which included megastructure upgrades and a rework of espionage. Fortunately, player numbers have bounced back since then. Players can expect active queues and lobbies, especially around 14:00 UTC (10 am ET), while it tends to be quieter around 00:00 UTC (8 pm ET).
Best time to play Stellaris
Over the last two weeks, Stellaris has been busiest around 14:00 UTC (10 am ET), averaging 15,844 players at that hour. The quietest hour is around 00:00 UTC (8 pm ET), with about 9,860 players. If you want faster matchmaking, aim for the hours around the peak.
Stellaris player count FAQ
How many people play Stellaris right now?
9,050 people were playing Stellaris on Steam at 03:30 UTC on Oct 15, 2026. The 24-hour peak was 14,245.
Is Stellaris dead?
No. Stellaris averages 11,370 concurrent players on Steam and the trend is fairly steady (up 7% on the previous 30 days).
What is the highest player count for Stellaris?
The highest concurrent count we have recorded for Stellaris on Steam is 29,782, on Jun 21, 2026. Our tracking started on Mar 23, 2026, so earlier launch peaks are not included.
Do these numbers include consoles?
No. These figures come from Steam only. Players on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, mobile or other PC launchers are not counted.
When is Stellaris most active?
Activity usually peaks around 14:00 UTC (10 am ET).
More on Stellaris
- Stellaris stats, news and reviews
- Stellaris patch notes: latest update
- Is Stellaris cross platform?
- Most played Steam games right now
How we count: Explosion samples Steam’s official concurrent-player API for every tracked game several times an hour and stores each reading. Averages are means of those readings. This page updates daily.
Nick Guli
Nick Guli is the founder and editor-in-chief of Explosion.com, which he launched in February 2012. With over a decade of experience in digital publishing, Nick oversees editorial direction across entertainment, gaming, technology, and lifestyle content. He is an avid gamer and movie enthusiast who brings a critical eye to coverage of industry trends, game reviews, and entertainment news.
