One of Steam’s most popular games is actually losing the devs money

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Even though Bongo Cat reached a peak of 194,000 concurrent players and ranked fourth on Steam’s list of most-played games, it fails to generate income for its developers.

On March 5, 2025, the cat-themed clicker game was officially released and swiftly climbed its way to become one of the top games on Valve’s platform alongside Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG.

However, unlike these entries, Bongo Cat isn’t really a game. There’s no music, no sound effects, and no real gameplay. Instead, the cute cat simply sits inside your screen and taps its little paws whenever you press a key or click your mouse.

Although some cosmetics are available for your cat (figuratively speaking), the game itself is completely free to play, with hats being potentially earned without spending any money. Despite its widespread appeal, Marcel Zurawka, founder and CEO of Irox Games, notes that the viral background app is ultimately causing financial losses for his company in the long run.

So what is the point of Bongo Cat?

In an interview with Eurogamer, Zurawka shared that the studio’s earnings, after Steam’s commission, amounted to only $2,000 initially. This figure increased slightly to $4,050 in April when Bongo Cat gained popularity online, but by late June, the revenue had decreased again to around $2,800, which is insufficient to cover the salary of a single developer.

In a different phraseology: “Some individuals remarked, ‘Wow, you’re wealthy now.’ That’s nonsense,” Zurawka countered. “I didn’t create it for the money in the slightest.” So, why did the developers develop Bongo Cat? Zurawka designed Bongo Cat to explore Steam’s community marketplace, a section where individuals can sell cosmetic items for actual currency.

Initially, the first model originated as a digging simulation game involving stones that were continually drilled when clicked. But one developer proposed substituting the stone for a cat, leading to the creation of Bongo Cat, which drew inspiration from internet memes.

As for why Bongo Cat exists, the answer is simple. It’s a marketing tool. The devs are now using their cute cat game to advertise their next game, Oku. And no, it’s not another idle clicker. In fact, when players wishlist Oku on Steam, they’ll receive Bongo Cat items. 

In essence, although Bongo Cat seems to be running in the red, Zurawska points out that this idle game serves as an extraordinary promotional device, enticing players to delve deeper into the details of their upcoming project. And now, I find myself pondering over how many hats I’ve managed to unlock throughout the course of writing this piece.

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2025-06-27 13:18