I played that $1,000 Steam game. I regret it
“Congratulations On Your Purchase,” a new Steam release, is a deliberately expensive walking simulator that costs $1,000 (£748). The product, launched in May 2026, is intentionally priced as a luxury experience and status symbol rather than a traditional game.
The experience itself is minimal: players walk down a red-carpet corridor surrounded by paparazzi, separated from common areas by a velvet rope, before signing their name on a wall alongside other purchasers. The entire experience lasts approximately 10 minutes. According to the game’s description, “The price is not a mistake. It is the point.”
The product is explicitly marked as satire and appears designed to parody luxury brands, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and excessive monetization practices in gaming. It echoes 2008’s “I Am Rich” iPhone app, which served a similar purpose as a digital status symbol with no functional value.
The game operates as social commentary on wealth consumption and consumer culture within gaming spaces. While the generous interpretation frames it as satirical critique, the stunt raises questions about monetization practices and what constitutes a “game” on modern digital storefronts like Steam.