The Power of Steam Lies in Games Players Don’t Play

If you think Steam‘s long-standing success is solely due to game quality or platform convenience, here’s an interesting analysis that offers a different perspective. Industry analyst Chris Zukowski states that game-buying habits are the hidden force that puts Steam ahead of its competitors. In particular, dozens of games that are left in the library without being played create an unexpected advantage for developers.

The ‘Digital Hoarding’ Habit of Steam Players

In a new blog post, Zukowski states that a large portion of Steam users never open the games they purchase. According to a 2023 study, 51.5% of the average user’s game library remains unplayed. This means developers can achieve sales success simply by making their games stand out.

This habit distinguishes Steam from other digital platforms. While services like Netflix are judged by the content watched, whether Steam purchases are played is often a secondary consideration. Zukowski describes this phenomenon as “Steam players are digital hoarders,” noting that the 30% platform commission provides value to developers thanks to this habit.

This behavior creates significant opportunities, especially for small and independent productions. Zukowski cites the game Peak, which received significant attention despite its release around the same time as major titles like Stellar Blade and Death Stranding 2. The mere fact that a game looks interesting or has a unique theme can be enough to motivate purchases.

Steam’s success is based not only on its active player count but also on hundreds of games purchased with the intention of “one day playing.” This culture of digital hoarding creates a unique advantage for both developers and the platform.

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