Estimates from data firm Aliena Analytics suggest Steam generated $11.1 billion in H1 revenue, up 14.5% year-over-year, marking the platform’s highest half-year revenue on record.
Revenue growth was driven by increased player activity in Asia, notably in China, higher prices for new releases, and the popularity of viral co-op games.
However, the primary driver was back-catalogue sales, with publishers leveraging new series entries through discounts, bundles, and limited-time offers.
For example, Resident Evil Requiem generated $194.5 million, making it one of the platform’s top earners.
Capcom supported Requiem with targeted promotions to boost sales of earlier franchise titles.
Alinea reports that revenue from new releases has gradually declined since H1 2024. Meanwhile, catalogue sales have increased from 71% to 79%.
“When a new release has to compete with a decade of discounted classics, the money pools at the very top (a handful of viral hits, beloved sequels, and big franchises,” the data firm said.
“Meanwhile, the long tail launches into a market that already has more great games than anyone has time to play.”
Among new 2026 releases, Forza Horizon 6 leads with an estimated $197.7 million in revenue within two months of launch. $4 million of this comes from DLC, including $2 million from VIP memberships.
Crimson Desert has earned $190 million since its March launch, followed by Slay the Spire 2 at $141.7 million.
Subnautica 2 generated $133.6 million, while indie hit Meccha Chameleon reached $73.1 million and leads in copies sold on Steam.
Aliena said that these new titles found success by having “a viral hook, [being] a beloved sequel or franchise with a built-in audience, [having] a price low enough to be an impulse, [or being a] risky spin on open-world RPGs.”
