NASA’s recent Artemis II mission has triggered a massive surge in popularity for the decade-old space flight simulator Kerbal Space Program (KSP).
Data from SteamDB shows the game hit an all-time peak of 21,037 concurrent players on April 10. This player count exceeds the game's original launch numbers and its most recent significant update periods.
As of this week, the game maintains a steady player base of 14,658 concurrent users on Steam. This level of engagement surpasses recent high-profile releases like Marathon.
NASA inspiration drives new players
The influx of players follows the return of the four-person NASA crew from the Artemis II mission. Many new users are arriving via community-made mods that import the Artemis II spacecraft into the game's physics engine.
Recent Steam reviews reflect a mix of returning veterans and confused newcomers. One player noted the difficulty of the simulation, writing, "Building a plane is hard."
Another recent reviewer admitted to the steep learning curve, stating, "i have 0 clue what the ♥♥♥♥ im doing."
Even long-term enthusiasts are struggling with the mechanics. One player with 193 hours of playtime reported on April 13 that they have barely managed to reach orbit.
The game has seen little official support recently. The original developers sold the rights years ago, and the title has not received a meaningful patch since 2023.
Despite the lack of developer updates or active sales, the game's realistic engineering mechanics continue to attract those inspired by real-world lunar exploration. Kerbal Space Program remains available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and several PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
