As Xbox and PlayStation flounder, Steam is reportedly having another record year
Steam, Valve’s PC gaming platform, recorded its highest-ever revenue in the first half of 2026, generating $11.1 billion according to estimates from market analysis firm Alinea Analytics. This represents a significant increase compared to the notably game-heavy final half of 2025 and a substantial rise from the first half of 2025.
According to Rhys Elliott, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics, multiple factors contributed to Steam’s exceptional performance. These include increased market penetration in China, higher pricing on newly released titles, and a notable trend of third-party publishers returning to Steam after previously operating their own dedicated game launchers. This represents a potential reversal of the fragmentation that characterized the PC gaming landscape in recent years, with major publishers consolidating their distribution back to Steam.
The results underscore Steam’s dominant position in the PC gaming market and suggest a shift in industry strategy as major publishers reassess the viability of maintaining separate storefronts.