Steam Valuable Because “You Get Access To A Bunch Of Drunken Sailors Who Spend Money Irresponsibly,” Says Analyst

by

In this competitive landscape where gaming vies for attention alongside other forms of entertainment and even our very own free-to-play sector, I firmly believe that Steam remains our shining beacon. Game developer here.

According to a recent article on GamesRadar, Zukowski posits that Valve has found a solution to a challenge that other entertainment providers like Netflix face: quantifying success based on user engagement with content. This is unique because gamers are not merely consumers, but rather they function as collectors.

In his words, Steam’s strength lies in fostering a passion for gaming similar to other hobbies like Lego, Warhammer, or knitting. This platform attracts an enthusiastic community that is deeply invested in their interest, regardless of the financial commitment involved.

Zukowski delves deeper into the debate over Valve’s 30% revenue share from Steam sales, a practice that has drawn criticism. However, he argues that developers are willing to part with such a significant portion because they receive income regardless of whether their players actually engage with the game: “The fact that Steam users are collectors makes sense as to why you take that 30%: You tap into a group of enthusiastic spenders who often splurge impulsively.

Developers can find reassurance in this study when they’re up against established live-service games such as Fortnite and GTA Online, which remain dominant despite being older. This confidence comes from understanding that these games continue to generate income even if the games themselves might not be actively played by new users.

Cheer up! It’s quite common on Steam, Zukowski explains. If people only purchased games they intended to play, we would sell far fewer titles. A significant portion of our industry might not exist under such conditions.

This theory has a condition: it works better for games that clearly fit into a specific genre. When players can easily identify the type of game from a quick glance, they are more likely to make an impulse purchase, thinking “I’m fond of open-world survival-crafting games! I understand this concept! I’ll definitely play this once I finish the other 20 OWSC games in my collection.” However, if the genre is not clear or ambiguous, such games may not attract avid collectors.

If it makes you consider saving up your collection, remember that the Steam Summer Sale is still ongoing.

Read More

2025-07-09 20:40