Expert says Steam’s success is built on games you’ll never play

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One video game strategist thinks that Steam’s greatest strength doesn’t lie in its vast collection of games or even its widely-anticipated summer and winter discount events; rather, it’s due to the tendency of many users to accumulate video games.

Steam users are frequently recognized for amassing extensive game collections, which often include titles they may never even play. This is a recurring humor among PC gaming enthusiasts, but as per a market analyst, the reason Valve’s online platform continues to flourish is because many games accumulate digital dust in continually expanding backlogs.

According to a GamesRadar+ article, Chris Zukowski pointed out that Steam’s triumph doesn’t stem from the amount of time spent playing games on it, but rather from the number of purchases made through the platform.

Steam thrives because of backlogs claims analyst 

In a recent post on his blog, Zukowski states an intriguing observation: “Steam and its user community often purchase video games they won’t end up playing.” It’s highly probable that the individual who buys your game isn’t going to play it themselves.

In simpler terms, he’s pointing out that Steam, like streaming platforms such as Netflix, faces competition from games like Fortnite, social media apps like TikTok, and even leisure activities such as sleep. Yet, according to Zukowski, Valve has skillfully navigated around this competition altogether.

As a gamer myself, I’ve got to hand it to Valve for tackling a challenge that even Netflix found tricky: how do you convince people who are already drowning in entertainment options to give more of their limited time? Well, Valve essentially discovered a way to extend the gaming day. It’s like envisioning a future where I could spend endless hours immersed in your game, but let’s be real, we both know that’s not likely!

As an avid gaming enthusiast like myself, I can’t help but echo Zukowski’s sentiments based on SteamDB statistics. It’s astonishing to learn that more than half of the typical gamer’s game library remains untouched! And it seems our shared passion for games extends beyond the screen, as he admits that a staggering two-thirds of his personal game collection has never seen a playthrough from him.

If Steam users made logical decisions and only purchased games they intended to play, we’d see significantly fewer sales. In fact, nearly half the industry could vanish,” he stated. “Understanding that Steam users tend to hoard items explains why you offer them a 30% discount: it attracts impulsive spenders who may not always make financially prudent decisions.

This marketing expert pointed out that the practice of accumulating items isn’t a recent phenomenon. Interestingly enough, activities we consider common leisure pursuits, such as LEGO building, Warhammer gaming, knitting, and book collecting, all revolve around this common thread.

According to Zukowski, hobbyists purchase items not primarily for their use, but rather as part of a collection process.

Game enthusiasts derive pleasure from unearthing hidden gems and adding them to their Steam collections. This behavior is shaped by the collector mindset.

Currently, it’s completely your decision whether to work through your game backlog or not, but either way, Steam serves as an excellent illustration of people’s fondness for deals and accumulating items. Incidentally, I must mention that I need to acquire a few more games for my “to-play” list before the Steam Summer Sale concludes.

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2025-07-08 15:48