Ultrakill just hit a major new milestone on Steam. After the release of its Layer 8 update, titled “Fraud,” the fast-paced Early Access single-player first-person shooter surged to a new peak of 71,785 concurrent players. That’s a huge jump from its previous high of around 28,000, and it’s enough to place Ultrakill among the most-played single-player FPS experiences on the platform right now.
So what’s behind the sudden spike? The Fraud layer arrives with four brand-new levels, continuing the game’s structure where each “layer” acts like a full world with its own theme, enemies, bosses, and gameplay twists. With only two layers left before the game is considered complete, this update also feels like a turning point for the community—especially because Fraud has been one of the most anticipated additions yet.
Much of the hype comes down to level design. Ultrakill is built around tearing through increasingly intense layers of Hell, and every new area has to feel distinct. Fraud pushes that identity to an extreme. Players are diving into stages packed with surreal, mind-bending ideas: non-Euclidean geometry, gravity tricks, mirror-like environments, and other visual and mechanical curveballs designed to keep you off balance. It’s the kind of update that doesn’t just add content—it changes the feeling of what the game can do.
Naturally, that ambition comes with a few trade-offs. While the reception to the new levels is largely positive, some players have pointed out performance issues. Ultrakill’s retro-inspired, PlayStation 1-style visuals might look simple at first glance, but the new looping spaces, heavier effects, and complex layouts can lead to far more models and particle effects being rendered at once. If you’re playing on low-end or mid-range PC hardware, performance settings such as “Simple Explosions” can make a big difference, especially during a first run through Layer 8.
Even beyond Fraud, Ultrakill offers plenty to do for anyone jumping in now. Once you clear the current lineup of levels, replay value becomes a major part of the experience. Players can chase high scores, go for top ranks, and unlock extra challenges like the Prime Sanctum content by earning P-Ranks across every stage. There are also secret levels that experiment with entirely different gameplay styles, plus hidden weapons scattered throughout the game for those willing to explore and experiment.
And for players who want a pure test of skill, there’s The Cyber Grind—an endless survival mode set in a customizable arena where waves of enemies grow more dangerous over time. It’s a perfect fit for Ultrakill’s core appeal: speed, aggression, precision, and constant forward momentum.
Once described as “Devil May Quake” thanks to its clear influences from Devil May Cry and classic arena shooters like Quake, Ultrakill is increasingly stepping out of the shadow of its inspirations. With its high-octane gunplay, relentless pacing, and now a headline-grabbing player surge driven by the Layer 8: Fraud update, it’s quickly becoming a must-know name for anyone craving a modern boomer shooter-style FPS with real personality and challenge.
