Wuthering Waves and Infinity Nikki Bring Premium Gacha to Steam

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Steam has been no stranger to Gacha games, yet big names such as Genshin Impact have chosen to stay exclusive through their own dedicated clients. However, change is in the air, with both Infinity Nikki and Wuthering Waves launching simultaneously on Steam for the first time.

Last year, both Wuthering Waves and Infinity Nikki debuted on various platforms. Although they appeared on the Epic Games Store, this wasn’t a full native release; instead, it functioned more like an extra launcher.

What Do the Numbers Say?

On the same day, both games were released, but it’s worth noting that Wuthering Waves has attracted approximately 14,000 players, while Infinity Nikki currently boasts around 4600 active players. At this moment, Wuthering Waves is thriving with a substantial number of positive reviews and a high online player count.

There were some instability problems reported by several players in Infinity Nikki, causing the game to crash frequently on Steam. Despite the fact that it comes with a separate launcher, it’s unlikely that many users will switch platforms, given the existing advantages of playing on Steam.

As a devoted fan, it’s evident to me that the growing popularity of both games is undeniable. This trend should prompt their developers to release future versions on Steam concurrently. The dedicated user base on Steam is substantial, and they primarily rely on this platform for their PC gaming needs. Given that many of these users might be first-timers, a simultaneous launch on Steam could potentially attract a broader audience.

Why isn’t miHoYo Releasing Its Gacha Games on Steam?

Instead of releasing their games exclusively through Steam since the debut of Genshin Impact in 2020, miHoYo, the creators of Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Honkai Star Rail, have chosen a different distribution method. Honkai Impact 3rd is the only game they’ve made available on Steam, but it is actually published by COGNOSPHERE instead of miHoYo directly.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been hooked on every major release from my favorite game developers, with millions of us gamers enjoying them seamlessly through the HoYoPlay launcher. If they were to make their games available on Steam, Valve would pocket 30% of their microtransaction sales. Given that miHoYo is already thriving, it seems they don’t see a compelling reason to venture into Steam and potentially lose revenue.

Apart from a 30% reduction in profits, there doesn’t appear to be any significant obstacle preventing them from publishing their games on this particular platform. However, they have already released their games on mobile and console platforms, which also take a substantial portion of their earnings. The PC version, though, is likely their most profitable platform. It’s possible that we could see a Steam release in the future, but for now, it seems that the studio prefers to continue using its own client.

To put it simply, the arrival of Wuthering Waves and Infinity Nikki on the platform suggests that more gacha games could soon follow, as developers recognize the benefits of the platform – its vast user base, unique features, and growing value. Currently, there are other engaging games like Limbus Company, Another Eden, Tower of Fantasy, and Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis to explore on this platform.

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2025-04-29 17:20