Infinity Evolved Update Sets New Steam Player Record
The latest expansion for Shadowverse: World’s Beyond, Infinity Evolved, launched on Thursday and immediately shattered the game’s concurrent player record on Steam. Surpassing its previous peak of 109,246 players, the digital card game now boasts over 120,000 simultaneous players—an impressive feat for a post-launch update.
Typically, games see their highest player counts at release before stabilizing. However, Infinity Evolved has defied expectations by reigniting interest in Shadowverse: World’s Beyond. Despite this success, many players—particularly free-to-play (F2P) and low-spending users—are raising concerns about the game’s economy, which they argue has become less generous than its predecessor.
Why Are Players Frustrated?
When Shadowverse: World’s Beyond launched in June 2024, it replaced the original Shadowverse (2016) on Steam, forcing players to rebuild their card collections from scratch. This decision sparked backlash, with fans review-bombing the game due to its stricter economy and reduced rewards for non-paying players.
Now, with the Infinity Evolved update, some players report that:
- Weekly tournament rewards appear weaker than before
- Expected free card packs were not distributed as hoped
- F2P players feel pressured to spend money to stay competitive
One Steam reviewer, ffeeii963, criticized the new version:
“Shadowverse Worlds Beyond has a horrible economy compared to the original. Now, I’m stuck playing Artifact Portal—the only viable F2P deck—because everything else is too expensive.”
Comparison to the Original Shadowverse
The 2016 version of Shadowverse still holds a “Mostly Positive” rating on Steam, with many players nostalgic for its more F2P-friendly model. Some argue that World’s Beyond prioritizes monetization over player satisfaction, making it harder for newcomers to compete without spending.
A Reddit user, Balverin, expressed disappointment:
“In the old Shadowverse, I happily spent money because the F2P experience was fair. Now, the game feels empty and greedy. New players joining later will have no way to catch up.”
Will the Player Surge Last?
While Infinity Evolved has brought in a wave of returning and new players, the ongoing economy issues could hurt long-term retention. If Cygames, the developer, doesn’t address player concerns, the initial hype may fade as F2P users struggle to keep up.
What Can Players Do?
For now, budget-conscious players should:
- Focus on efficient deck-building (like Artifact Portal)
- Save resources for meta-defining cards
- Participate in events for bonus rewards
Final Thoughts
Shadowverse: World’s Beyond is enjoying record-breaking success with Infinity Evolved, but player frustration over its economy remains a major issue. If Cygames wants to maintain this momentum, it may need to rebalance rewards and ensure F2P players aren’t left behind.
For now, fans will have to weigh whether the game’s exciting new cards outweigh its tougher grind—or if they’d rather stick with the older, more generous version of Shadowverse.
