The social deduction game Among Us boasts a huge number of September downloads on mobile devices. That number has increased exponentially from August, which was also a huge month for Among Us.
According to mobile market tracker Sensor Tower, Among Us has received over 41 million downloads in September 2020, up from about 18 million downloads in August. The game was only downloaded about 1 million times each month in early 2020 before the game became a viral hit. On top of the huge download numbers, developer InnerSloth recently reported a concurrent player count of over 1.5 million.
These numbers are particularly remarkable because the game has been out since 2018. Recent play by major streamers has enabled the game to reach a larger audience. In addition to playing the game, fans have created impressive animations and other projects to show their fondness for the game. Another factor in the game's prominence may be the COVID-19 pandemic, as many players likely appreciate the chance to connect with friends through Among Us in the midst of social distancing.
Among Us puts groups of up to 10 players in a virtual spaceship, assigning each various tasks to keep the ship running. One or more crew members are secretly imposters, who aim to destroy the crew. As imposters sabotage the ship and kill crew members, players vote on who to evict, leading to potentially frantic arguments, especially if the crew evicts multiple players who are not the imposter.
InnerSloth has announced Among Us 2, and spending time building the infrastructure needed for current Among Us players could take time away from the sequel. As it stands, the game is only available on mobile devices, and Windows PC, but some would argue its playerbase could grow even more if additional platforms were supported. However, others might say this could overwhelm the game's infrastructure more.
Still, many fans are surely excited that the game is so popular. More players means more murders, more sabotage, and more negotiation. The game typically requires nuanced strategies for imposters, providing a great incentive to play again and again. Any time put into memorizing the game's maps may also pay off when the sequel releases. The developers have stated that the first game's maps will be carried over to the second game, so fans won't have to worry about giving up their favorite maps when the sequel rolls around.
Among Us is now available on PC and mobile devices.