Rust feels like it has always been there. It has been on Steam for almost thirteen years, it has been rebuilt from scratch once, it has thrown out whole progression systems, and it still wipes every month on the first Thursday. If you have ever wondered when Rust actually came out, or why older players talk about “Legacy”, this page puts the whole story in order.
This Rust release date guide covers when Rust was made, the Early Access launch, the full release, the Legacy and Experimental split, the console edition, the player count records, and every big update from 2013 to 2026.
- Release Date
- When Was Rust Made
- Legacy vs Experimental
- Full Timeline
- Player Records
- Console Edition
- Monthly Updates
- FAQ
When Did Rust Come Out?
Rust has two release dates, and both are correct depending on what you mean. It first went on sale in Steam Early Access on December 11, 2013, as a paid alpha for $19.99. It left Early Access and became a full release on February 8, 2018, when the price went up to $34.99. Facepunch said there would be no launch party or big reveal, just the normal monthly update with a new version number.
| Milestone | Date | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| First public alpha tests | Mid-2013 | PC (browser and standalone) |
| Steam Early Access launch | December 11, 2013 | PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) |
| Experimental branch becomes the default | October 2014 | PC |
| Full release (1.0) | February 8, 2018 | PC |
| Rust Console Edition | May 21, 2021 | PS4, Xbox One |
| Native next-gen console version | 2025 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
So if a friend asks how old Rust is: it has been playable on Steam for almost 13 years, and it has been a “finished” game for more than 8. It is still updated every month.
When Was Rust Made, and Who Made It?
Rust was made by Facepunch Studios, the UK studio founded by Garry Newman, who also made Garry’s Mod. Work started in early 2013, built in the Unity engine. The first version was openly a DayZ-style survival game with zombies, plus Minecraft-like gathering and building.
Public alpha tests ran in mid-2013, and the press described it as “DayZ meets STALKER”. The zombies did not last. In early 2014, a few weeks after the Steam launch, Facepunch replaced them with wild animals because the team felt they made the game feel like a copy. That was the first of many times Rust would throw out a core idea and keep going.
The Early Access launch was a big hit for a game that was openly unfinished. Rust sold about 150,000 copies in its first two weeks, and by 2017 it had passed five million sales before it ever hit 1.0.
Rust Legacy vs Experimental: Why Rust Was Rebuilt
In 2014 Facepunch decided the original code was a prototype that could not carry the game forward. Instead of patching it, the team started again in a newer version of Unity and released the rebuild as an Experimental branch on Steam. In October 2014 the Experimental branch became the default game, and the original was renamed Rust Legacy.
Legacy stopped getting updates in 2014 and stayed on Steam as a separate branch for a while. Community records say it was removed from Steam completely in December 2016. Some private Legacy servers still run on modded clients, but the official game is the rebuild. When a veteran says “back in Legacy”, they mean the 2013 and 2014 game.
| Rust Legacy | Rust (rebuild) | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 2013 to 2014 (removed 2016) | 2014 to today |
| Engine | Older Unity build | Modern Unity, upgraded over time |
| Enemies | Zombies at launch, then animals | Animals, scientists, Bradley, helicopters |
| Maps | One fixed map | Procedural maps and custom maps |
| Updates | Stopped in 2014 | Every month |
Rust Timeline: Every Major Update From 2013 to 2026
Rust has had well over a hundred updates. These are the ones that changed how the game is played. Most of the systems you use every wipe, like blueprints, workbenches and the tech tree, arrived in this order.
| Date | Update or event | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-2013 | Public alpha | DayZ-style survival with zombies, crafting and building |
| Dec 11, 2013 | Steam Early Access | Paid alpha at $19.99, about 150,000 sales in two weeks |
| Early 2014 | Zombies removed | Replaced with wild animals |
| Oct 2014 | Experimental becomes default | The rebuilt game replaces the original, now called Legacy |
| Jul 2016 | XP and levelling | Players earn XP to unlock items |
| Nov 3, 2016 | Components update | XP removed, components like gears and springs added |
| Aug 2017 | Bradley APC | The tank arrives at Launch Site (see our Bradley guide) |
| Oct 2017 | Blueprints 3.0 | Blueprints return with workbench levels 1 to 3 |
| Feb 8, 2018 | Full release (1.0) | Leaves Early Access, price goes to $34.99, monthly updates |
| Sep 2019 | Linux dropped | Linux client pulled on September 5, 2019, with Steam refunds for Linux players |
| Sep 2020 | Boat vendor | Boats bought at Fishing Villages, not found on beaches |
| Dec 3, 2020 | Tech tree | Each workbench gets its own tech tree |
| Jan 2021 | Streamer boom | Big streamer servers push Rust to 245,000 players |
| May 21, 2021 | Rust Console Edition | PS4 and Xbox One release by Double Eleven |
| Sep 2022 | Hardcore mode | No map, no teams UI, no safe zones |
| Dec 2023 | 10th anniversary | More than 16 million PC copies sold |
| Jan 2, 2025 | All-time record | 262,284 players online at once on Steam |
| Feb 6, 2025 | Primitive update | Siege weapons: catapult, ballista, siege tower, battering ram |
| 2025 | Next-gen console | Native PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions, old-gen servers close Oct 30, 2025 |
| Oct 2025 | Meta Shift | Blueprint fragments added to workbench recipes |
| Nov 2025 | Pivot or Die | Full blueprint wipe, research and tech tree cut to 15, 30, 60 and 120 scrap |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Naval update | Player-built boats, Deep Sea, ocean monuments (see Rust boats) |
| May 2026 | Workbench upgrades | Loot-found upgrades you install on a workbench |
| Sep 3, 2026 | Breach and Clear | Destructible monument blockers, Honey Bandage, group upkeep |
Rust Player Count Records
Rust is one of the few games that gets more popular as it gets older. Its biggest peaks have come years after release, usually around a streamer event or a big update.
| Date | Peak players on Steam | What drove it |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | About 125,000 | Lockdown surge |
| January 2021 | 245,243 | Big streamer servers, over 1 million Twitch viewers |
| January 2, 2025 | 262,284 | New Year wipe, ahead of the Primitive update |
On sales, Facepunch said Rust had sold more than 16 million copies on PC by its 10th anniversary in December 2023. Later reports put it past 20 million in 2025. If you want to find a busy server to play on today, our Rust servers page lists good ones by region.
Rust Console Edition Release Date
Rust Console Edition released on May 21, 2021 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is a separate port built by Double Eleven, not Facepunch. It was first planned for 2020 and slipped because of the pandemic. It also ran on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility.
Console gets content later than PC. The tech tree, for example, reached console in November 2021, almost a year after PC. In 2025 Double Eleven released native PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions and gave old-gen owners a free upgrade. The PS4 and Xbox One versions were delisted in May 2025 and their servers were scheduled to close on October 30, 2025.
Console Edition is still a separate game from PC Rust, so PC and console players can’t share a server, while PS5 and Xbox Series players can. Our Rust crossplay guide covers every platform.
How Rust Updates Work Today
Since the full release, Rust has followed a simple rhythm. A new update comes out on the first Thursday of every month, and every official and community server is force wiped at the same time, around 11am Pacific (7pm UK). Some updates also wipe blueprints. Our home page has the countdown to the next Rust force wipe.
Facepunch has said it will keep this monthly cadence going in 2026, with bigger themed updates a few times a year. Each December the game also celebrates its birthday with cake, hats and throwback items, which is why you see a Birthday Cake in the item list.
Rust History Tips for New Players
- Check the date on every guide. Rust changes every month, and anything older than the November 2025 update may have wrong prices.
- “Legacy” means the old game. If someone mentions Legacy, they mean the 2013 and 2014 version, not the current one.
- Console is behind PC. A feature on PC may not be on console yet. Check your server.
- Force wipe is the first Thursday. Plan your big pushes for the start of the month. Our console commands page helps you set up your game before wipe day.
Rust Release Date FAQ
When was Rust released?
Rust launched in Steam Early Access on December 11, 2013, and fully released (version 1.0) on February 8, 2018. Rust Console Edition came out on May 21, 2021 for PS4 and Xbox One.
When was Rust made?
Garry Newman and Facepunch Studios started Rust in early 2013 as a DayZ-style survival game. Public alpha tests ran in mid-2013, and it went on sale in Steam Early Access in December 2013.
How old is Rust?
As of October 2026, Rust has been on Steam for almost 13 years (since December 11, 2013) and has been a full release for more than 8 years (since February 8, 2018). It turns 13 on December 11, 2026.
What is Rust Legacy?
Rust Legacy is the original 2013 version of the game. In 2014 Facepunch rebuilt Rust in a newer version of Unity, and in October 2014 that rebuild became the default game. The old version was renamed Legacy, stopped getting updates, and was later removed from Steam.
Who made Rust?
Rust was made by Facepunch Studios, the UK studio founded by Garry Newman, the creator of Garry’s Mod. Rust Console Edition is developed by Double Eleven.
When did Rust come out on console?
Rust Console Edition released on May 21, 2021 for PS4 and Xbox One. Native PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions followed in 2025, with a free upgrade for old-gen owners.
What is Rust’s highest player count?
Rust’s all-time Steam peak is 262,284 players online at once, set on January 2, 2025. The previous record was 245,243 in January 2021.
Sources and Further Reading
- Wikipedia, Rust (video game) (Early Access and full release dates, sales, Legacy)
- Facepunch, Devblog 134 (XP removed, components added, November 2016)
- Facepunch, Tech Tree update (December 2020)
- Game Informer, Rust leaves Early Access (February 8, 2018 and price change)
- PCGamesN, Rust sets a new Steam record (262,284 players, January 2025)
- Push Square, Rust on PS4 shutting down (next-gen console upgrade)