Rust, the multiplayer sandbox survival game, is making headlines for a number of reasons. Two private servers that feature a number of prominent streamers have increased the game's visibility, resulting in a record number of new players to Rust. With so many folks tuning in and picking up the game, it should come as no surprise that this is leading to some increased revenue for Rust's developer Facepunch Studios.
Most of the increased publicity comes as a result of controversy brewing via the OfflineTV Rust server. The server is invite only, and when one of those invitations was sent out to the sometimes-abrasive streamer xQc, his antics stirred up trouble. xQc started accusing others of stream sniping after having loot stolen. A number of streamers invited to participate have not been happy with the way in which xQc has conducted himself on the server, but the headlines generated have substantially raised the profile of the game.
All of the increased attention has led to Rust cracking over $1,000,000 in Steam revenue on two separate days so far this year. Garry Newman, founder of developer Facepunch Studios, revealed this info through a tweet, including a mind blown emoji which indicates that these sales figures came as a surprise. For a game that was released seven years ago with just a small staff of 20 employees working on it at the time, daily sales topping one million dollars in 2021 is a noteworthy achievement.
The way in which Twitch exposure has snowballed into huge sales for Rust is impressive, and shows the power of the platform. The game has shot up the Twitch charts on the back of the OfflineTV server, as well as the equally, if not more, popular EGOLAND server featuring top names in the Spanish-speaking community. It looks like the game can still go even higher, with Rust projected to continue growing its player count even after breaking its own records not too long ago. The game is riding a wave of enthusiasm, catching many off guard.
While the drama generated on the OfflineTV Rust server may feel a bit manufactured to some, the attention has had a huge impact on Rust's surge in sales. With so many new players drawn to the game thanks to the increased presence on Twitch, a massive bump in sales for a small developer is certainly a positive outcome.
Rust is available now for PC, with a PS4 and Xbox One release planned for 2021.
