Because the platform that will get the lion’s share of PC sport gross sales, Steam naturally makes some huge cash yearly from commissions, publishing charges, and extra via its storefront. However how a lot money has it made up to now in 2026? Unsurprisingly, sufficient dough to purchase Valve co-founder Gabe Newell a few more superyachts. In line with the top of market evaluation at Alinea Analytics, Rhys Elliot, Steam has made $15 billion in 2026, and with an enormous interval of high-profile sport releases across the nook, that quantity is prone to surge even increased earlier than the 12 months is over.
Steam’s prime releases by gross income embrace AAA video games and breakout indie hits, with Forza Horizon 6 main the cost. The brand new racing sport earned Steam $210.5 million in income, whereas Crimson Desert gross sales had been answerable for $203.3 million, Resident Evil Requiem made simply over $200.9 million, and Slay the Spire 2 introduced in over $148 million. Rounding out the record is Subnautica 2 at $139.2 million and Meccha Chameleon at $89.8 million.
That is loads of cheddar, nevertheless it solely counts for six.6% of the $15 billion that Steam has made up to now. Elliot famous that the highest 100 new video games by gross income make up 15.9% of Steam’s whole 2026 income so far–around $2.4 billion. Crimson Desert can be doing loads of heavy lifting, because it accounts for about 18% of all new-IP income within the prime 100. “Of the new-game prime 100, 63% had been truly new IP, however 52.5% of the income ($1.25B) got here from established IP,” Elliot wrote. “However it’s price noting Crimson Desert, with its $203M, accounts for about 18% of all new-IP income within the prime 100. Once we take Crimson out of the evaluation, the 62 new-IP video games make up solely about 39%. So yeah, loads of established IP is doing the legwork, as you’d count on.”
Wanting forward, Steam’s coffers can count on an inflow of money from highly anticipated releases like Phantom Blade Zero, Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 4, and Gears of Conflict: E-Day, simply to call a couple of. Valve will get a lower from no matter is bought on Steam, together with the profitable microtransactions and DLC that accompany most video games nowadays. Elliot additionally spoke to GameSpot just lately about what goes into a game price tag as a part of our Cheap Week deep-dives.
Hi, I’m Rishab. I’m a passionate pc gamer and an avid video game content writer. I have been involved with video games for over 2 decades now, and even today, after playing an astronomical number of games over the years, I’m still eager for more. In my free time, you will find me enjoying a hot cup of coffee and playing my favorite relaxing fishing game, Dave the Diver.
