Steam Sales History: Top-Earning Games Revealed

The world of gaming has witnessed a significant growth in recent years, and Steam, one of the largest digital distribution platforms, has played a crucial role in this expansion. According to Sergey Galyonkin of SteamSpy, the platform saw an increase in game sales revenue of $800 million in 2017 over the year prior. This surge in revenue was driven by the success of various titles, with some games generating massive profits.

One of the most significant trends in the Steam sales history is that free-to-play games and titles with additional in-game monetization are underrepresented. Despite this, there were some notable exceptions, such as Cuphead, which ranked 20th on the list of top-earning games. This game generated $22 million in revenue from over 1.3 million owners on Steam.

The top-earning games on Steam included some obvious money spinners like Call of Duty: World War II, which generated $41 million in sales from 840,000 copies owned. However, there were also some surprising entries on the list, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Grand Theft Auto V. These games demonstrated that success is not limited to big-budget titles with extensive marketing campaigns.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) stood out as the top earner on Steam, generating a staggering $600 million in revenue from 28 million owners on the platform. This impressive figure highlights the popularity of battle royale-style games and their potential for massive profits.

In addition to these individual game successes, the Steam sales history also revealed some broader trends. For instance, Galyonkin's estimates suggest that around half of the $4.3 billion generated by Steam in 2017 came from just 100 of the 21,000 games available on the platform. This statistic emphasizes the importance of quality and popularity in driving game success.

The Steam sales history is a testament to the power of gaming as an entertainment medium. With its vast library of titles and millions of active users, Steam has become an essential part of the gaming landscape. As gamers continue to engage with this vibrant community, it will be fascinating to see how the platform continues to evolve and what new trends emerge in the future.