Deltarune Chapter 5 Shatters Steam Records as Chapter 6 Date Set
Deltarune Chapter 5 has shattered its own Steam concurrent player record, while developer Toby Fox has officially set a 2027 release window for Chapter 6. The information comes directly from an official FAQ on the game's Steam page, as reported by IGN.
The newly released Chapter 5 achieved a peak of 290,973 concurrent players on Steam, according to data in the report. This more than doubles the game's previous all-time peak of 133,920 concurrent players, set during a prior chapter launch. The surge propelled Deltarune into Steam's top 10 best-selling games list upon release.
Deltarune gameplay screenshot.
In the same FAQ, creator Toby Fox confirmed that Chapter 5 is not the conclusion of the story and provided a timeline for what's next. The development team is officially targeting a 2027 release for Chapter 6. Fox stated that the team plans to "periodically share updates" on the game's development progress moving forward.
Development Roadmap and Chapter 7 Progress
Developer Toby Fox has outlined an aggressive production schedule, confirming that work on Chapter 7 could begin before the end of this year. This forward momentum follows his statement, reported by IGN, that development on the upcoming Chapter 6 is progressing "so smoothly" that shifting some resources to the next chapter is a realistic possibility.
The team plans to maintain transparency with fans throughout the multi-year process. According to the official Steam FAQ, periodic development updates will be shared to keep the community informed on the progress toward Chapter 6's targeted 2027 release. This structured communication is a direct response to the long gaps between earlier chapters.
Combat system overview
This accelerated timeline suggests a concerted effort to complete the Deltarune saga. With Chapter 6 now in active development and Chapter 7 on the immediate horizon, Fox and his team are working to deliver the remaining chapters of the story more efficiently than in the past.
New Pricing Structure and Access for Future Chapters
The official launch of Deltarune with Chapters 3 and 4 in 2025 has established a new, permanent pricing model for the game's future. According to an FAQ on the game's Steam page, the first two chapters remain free-to-play, allowing new players to experience the beginning of the story at no cost.
To access all subsequent content, players must purchase Chapters 3 and 4. This purchase, which marked the game's "official" commercial launch, serves as a single entry point. As confirmed by the developers, anyone who buys Chapters 3 and 4 will receive all future chapters, including Chapter 5 and the upcoming Chapter 6, at no extra cost.
This structure represents a shift from creator Toby Fox's earlier plans to bundle Chapters 3, 4, and 5 as a single paid product. The decision to release Chapters 3 and 4 first, while work on Chapter 5 continued, solidified this buy-once model. Moving forward, this ensures players who support the project's development will receive the complete narrative as it releases.
Dark World concept art.
Critical Reception and the Path to the 10th Anniversary
Deltarune's latest chapters have been met with critical acclaim as the game's narrative approaches its projected conclusion. IGN's review of the recent content awarded the game a 9/10, with reviewer Cade Onder praising its "phenomenal and high-stakes" quality despite the overall story being unfinished. The review noted that the experience offered approximately 20 hours of gameplay and that the narrative is currently considered to be at its halfway point.
The sustained quality through multiple chapters fuels speculation about the saga's ultimate finale. Based on the announced timeline for Chapter 6 in 2027 and the ongoing development pace, analysis in the IGN report suggests creator Toby Fox could be aiming to complete the Deltarune story around 2028. This would strategically coincide with the game's 10th anniversary, marking a full decade since the release of the first chapter.
Artistic representation of the game's narrative themes.
While the development roadmap confirms work will continue into Chapter 7, the critical and commercial success of Chapter 5 demonstrates a powerful, enduring engagement with the fanbase. This sets a high benchmark for the concluding chapters as Fox and his team work toward bringing the ambitious, multi-part story to its close.