If you listen to the doom-posters on Reddit, you'd think the Quake Champions player count had bottomed out to zero months ago. People love a good "dead game" narrative. It’s easy to look at a chart, see a sub-1,000 number, and assume the servers are just tumbleweeds and dial-up tones.
But honestly? That's not the whole story. Not even close.
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I’ve spent the last few weeks digging into the actual SteamDB metrics and talking to the people who still queue up for TDM at 3:00 AM. What I found is a game that is essentially the "cockroach" of the arena shooter world. It won't die. It shouldn't be alive, given the lack of massive updates, yet here we are in 2026 and you can still find a match in under two minutes if you’re in the right region.
The Hard Numbers: Quake Champions Player Count Right Now
Let’s get the "scary" stuff out of the way first. According to the latest Steam Charts for January 2026, the game is averaging roughly 228 concurrent players. In December 2025, that number sat around 203.
You’ve seen bigger crowds at a local high school football game.
However, there is a weird, persistent heartbeat here. Take a look at the peaks. Even this month, we saw a 24-hour peak of 811 players. That’s a massive swing from the average. It tells us that while the "always-on" population is tiny, there is a significant "weekend warrior" community that still logs in for their fix of high-speed gibs.
Interestingly, Quake Live (the older, browser-based-turned-Steam classic) has actually been outperforming its younger brother. For over a year now, Quake Live has maintained a higher average player count, sitting closer to 293 average players this month.
Why does the old game win?
- Performance: It runs on a toaster.
- Mods: Quake Champions is locked down; Quake Live is a playground.
- Movement: Some purists still hate the "Champion" abilities.
Why the "Dead Game" Label is Kinda Bull
Most people see a triple-digit player count and uninstall. They think they’ll never find a game.
But Quake isn't Call of Duty. You don't need 50,000 people to have a healthy ecosystem in a 1v1 or 4v4 environment. The community is concentrated. If you're in North America or Europe, the Quake Champions player count is more than enough to sustain a dedicated Duel scene.
The game finally hit its "full release" back in August 2022, and since then, id Software has basically put it on life support. We get seasonal map rotations and the occasional skin, but the heavy lifting is done by the fans. We’re seeing community-run tournaments like the Kuachicups Duel Championship pulling in peak viewership numbers (around 350-400 viewers) that rival the actual in-game player count.
It’s a cult. A very fast, very sweaty cult.
The 2026 "Xbox Revival" Rumors
Here is where things get spicy. There’s a lot of chatter about Microsoft—who now owns the whole Quake and Hexen pie—planning something big for later this year.
Rumors from Windows Central suggest a major Quake announcement could happen at QuakeCon 2026 or the Xbox Showcase. Does this mean a Quake Champions overhaul? Probably not. Most experts think we're looking at a "reboot" similar to DOOM 2016.
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If a new Quake title is announced, the Quake Champions player count will likely do one of two things:
- It’ll spike as nostalgic players come back to "practice."
- It’ll crater as everyone moves to the new shiny thing.
Honestly, the lack of modding support is what really hurt Champions. Looking at the data, the game failed to keep the broader public's attention because it felt too much like a "service" and not enough like a "platform."
Is it worth playing in 2026?
You've gotta be a certain type of player to enjoy Quake in 2026. You’re going to get destroyed. The people still playing have been doing this since 1996. They don't miss rails. They know exactly where the Mega Health is going to spawn before you even realize you're hurt.
But there’s no other feeling like it. The "Champion" system, which was so controversial at launch, actually adds a layer of depth that keeps the small community engaged. Sorlag’s spit or Clutch’s shield—these things matter when the player count is low and every 1v1 is against a regular you recognize by their username.
Actionable Insights for New/Returning Players
If you're looking to jump back in despite the low Quake Champions player count, here is the reality of how to do it:
- Stick to Peak Hours: Don't try to queue at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday. Aim for 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM in your local time zone.
- Select Multiple Regions: If your ping can handle it, check all the boxes for servers under 100ms. It drastically cuts queue times.
- Join the Discord: The "official" matchmaking is only half the game. The real community lives in Discord servers like Quake Project or the Official Quake Discord. This is where the private lobbies and "noob-friendly" games happen.
- Watch the Pros: Keep an eye on players like vengeurR or k1llsen. Even though the official Pro League ended in 2023, these guys still stream and keep the meta alive.
The game isn't growing, but it isn't gone. As long as the servers stay on, the Quake community will be there, strafe-jumping into the sunset.