V Rising Hits 6 Million Players: Apparently, We All Really Like Drinking Blood

Six million vampires can’t be wrong, mostly because that many undead warlords would probably block out the sun permanently.

Stunlock Studios dropped some big numbers today, confirming that V Rising has officially crossed the 6 million player mark since its debut in 2022. For a game that essentially asks you to manage resources while avoiding a severe case of sunburn, that is an impressive retention rate. It seems the loop of waking up in a coffin, punching trees, and eventually becoming Dracula has some serious staying power.

A Success Story With Teeth

This milestone validates the game's slow burn through Early Access into its full release. With over 89% positive reviews on Steam, it has managed to avoid the survival game curse of being "promising but empty." CEO Rickard Frisegård called it an "incredible moment," citing years of passion and community support. It is the standard PR victory lap, but considering how polished Vardoran has become compared to most survival sandboxes, they have earned the right to brag a little.

The Appeal of the Grind

If you are wondering what six million people are doing in there, it basically boils down to a very gothic chore list. The game has over 60 bosses to hunt down, and each one gives you new powers or crafting recipes. It is essentially Pokémon for people who listened to too much My Chemical Romance in high school. You track a boss, beat the unliving tar out of them, drink their blood, and steal their abilities.

Then there is the castle building. You are not just sleeping in a dirt hole; you are constructing massive, multi-story fortresses. Of course, this leads to the classic survival game heartbreak where you spend three days perfecting your throne room, only to log in and find that a rival clan has kicked down your door and stolen all your loot. Whether you play on a ruthless PvP server or stick to the slightly more chill co-op experience, the core loop of "kill, build, dominate" is incredibly sticky.

The Night is Young

With the game now available on both Steam and PlayStation 5, that player count is likely to keep ticking upward. Whether you are there for the intricate castle aesthetics or just want to murder vampire hunters with dark sorcery, the community is clearly alive and well. Or undead and well. You get the point.

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