Through considered skill, Delta Force, the free-to-play tactical shooter from Team Jade, has set an all-time record by amassing an impressive 213,519 concurrent players on Steam, its player base surge differentiating it from its competitors such as Fortnite while Battlefield 6 is on the brink of release, The record was set a few weeks after the same record was set and was aimlessly broken due to understatement. Despite owning “mixed” reviews on Steam, one must attribute the record to the game’s battle with the big name players of the industry.
With the likes of Fortnite boasting 650 million registered players and 110 million monthly active users, Twitch or Fortnite itself is hardly a contender. The industry has bewildered the audience, readers, and game analysts. Delta Force’s surge pointed out a big gap that has been present in the shooter genre for quite a while and with Fortnite on the competitive side, it is as if the dominance has grown impenetrable.
Gradual Growth In Relation To Expectations
On December 4th, 2024, Delta Force was published on PC as a free modern team-based tactical shooter. Delta Force has three different modes of gameplay, as opposed to Fortnite, which has building mechanics and vibrant colors. Delta Force has Warfare, which is 32V32 combat, Operations, which is an extraction shooter, and a story campaign titled Black Hawk Down. Delta Force does not try to put Fortnite’s colors, nor does it try to have a building aspect. It is a more realistic and militarily inspired gameplay.
Even though Delta Force has a satisfaction rating of 60.6% based on 138,000 reviews on Steam, the game has exceptional longevity. SteamCharts has recorded data on the game and has stated that Delta Force has had growth month over month since it was launched.
The data is as follows:
(DATE RANGE) AVG. PLAYERS GAIN % GAIN PEAK PLAYERS
AP C 2025 549,864.73 1,226.53 2.29 1 131,129
MAY 2025 74,248.72 19,384 35.33 154,488
JUNE 2025 78,939.86 4,691.13 6.32 161,668
JULY 2025 99,220.14 20,280.28 25.69 198,619
AUGUST 2025 103,143.78 +3,923.64 3.95 210,413
The 30 days to last date reported 103.289.67 145.9 0.14 213,519
Such strong growth becomes more notable when you look at the numbers Fortnite has. Since November of 2024, when Fortnite has over 14 million players, it has dropped to around 1.3 million active players in August 2025.
The Console Launch Catalyst
The surge in players of Delta Force is likely due to the successful console launch on August 19, 2025. Launching on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 opened the game’s market well beyond the PCs.
The developers at Team Jade have shown to be very quick to respond to community needs and are focused on console post-launch support. This support includes:
Inter-console crossplay
- Programmable mouse and keyboard support
- Gyro controls
- Significant performance and frame rate boosts
- Improved controller support and enhancements
This proactive improvement likely assists in the efforts to retain players and to maximize word-of -mouth advertisement, producing a cycle of growth regardless of the fact that even Fortnite still holds the highest number of players yearly.
The Battlefield 6 Connection
Analysts have described a phenomenon in the industry. Delta Force seems to be taking in more interest because of the hype on Battlefield 6, soon to be released in October 2025. With the recently closed open beta, players are coming to Delta Force as a way to fill in time.
The argument becomes more valid when you consider how Delta Force’s Warfare mode (32v32’s land/sea/air/vehicle/tactical gear battles) resembles the classic Battlefield formula. With folks anticipating Battlefield 6, Delta Force provides a similar experience, complete with a low barrier of entry. While it may be free-to-play, it is not without considerbale merit. This may be the reason Delta Force has gotten more popular relatively recently, even with Fortnite’s popularity in the larger shooter market.
The Fortnite Comparison: Different Markets, Different Approaches
In contrast to Delta Force, Fortnite has remained at the top of the battle royale market for several years due to its building functionality and strong cross-media partnerships. Instead of competing with Fortnite’s colorful style and fast paced, frequent updates, Delta Force is a tactical military shooter that uses the free-to-play surefire success model.
The differences between these approaches are stark :
Art Style: Fortnite has a cartoonish style but Delta Force has more realistic graphics and military authenticity.
The pace of gameplay: Fortnite matches are usually fast and include building while Delta Force focuses more on strategy and team works.
Monetization: Both Delta Force and Fortnite are free to play but Delta Force has an auction house.
The difference does not affect the comparably easiest way to lose players. Fortnite has shown success in this area by adding new content and hosting events for more than 44 million players in a single day.
Live Service Model: Lessons from Fortnite. Fortnite has a much more successful live approach and Delta Force seems to be following the trend. They are committed to seasonally updated content with the first season called “Genesis.” It added new weapons, vehicles, appearances, interface changes, and new gameplay mechanics.
Introduction
In today’s competitive landscape, retaining players is crucial. With respect to Fortnite for example, their success is partly attributed to the players’ expectation to have regular refresh gameplay experiences. Team Jade announcing ‘major performance and graphics boost’ for the next seasonal update indicates they understand the need for continued investment. Just like Fortnite continues to develop, Team Jade also understands the need for development.
Community Response and Future Challenges
Fans of Delta Force hold dearly to the multiplayer mode. With respect to Delta Force, Fortnite also has a considerable amount of work to do, considering the immense amount of players they have. On Steam Delta Force has a Mixed Review rating, which shows even while players like the game, they are still not fully satisfied. Delta Force also has a considerable amount of work to do, considering the immense amount of players they have.
On Steam Delta Force has a Mixed Review rating, which shows even while players like the game, they are still not fully satisfied. o influenced by Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the journey ahead will not be a walk in the park. The ongoing cultural reign of Fortnite, the phenomenon of gaming, goes to the next level and builds a monument on success that Delta Force can only hope to reach.
Conclusion: A New Contender Emerges
The fact that Delta Force managed to peak with 213,000 concurrent players showcases the fact that free to play shooters that take influence from Fortnite, but don’t directly replicate it, offer something new and valuable to the gaming world. The game offers a tactical focus and consistent content, with a very active development team, providing players with an alternative to the Fortnite-inspired battle royales.
As Fortnite expands into new modes like Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival, the gaming world seems to be shifting in a direction that favors highly curated experiences for players. Perhaps because it is fundamentally different from Fortnite, Delta Force’s strict military simulation seems to be well positioned to attract audience.
Over the next few months, Delta Force will aim to lock in their advancements and turn interested newcomers into fully active players. If the development team continues their trajectory regarding community interaction and optimizations, they stand a possibility of founding a market presence in the region Fortnite has accomplished success.
What I do know for sure is that there are still opportunities to offer different experiences in an ecosystem where Fortnite has set the bar for what is achievable in live, service games and be successful. The increase in Delta Force’s players indicates that military tactical shooters still stand a chance to be featured in the world phenomenon Fortnite has become.
Source: https://gamerant.com/delta-force-new-steam-player-count-record-why-now/
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