Steam’s Record-Breaking $11 Billion Profit in First Half of 2026 Was Funded Mostly by Older Games
Steam achieved record-breaking profitability in the first half of 2026, generating $11 billion in revenue—its most profitable period in the platform’s 22-year history. This figure surpasses the entire 2020 revenue of $7.2 billion, achieved during the height of the pandemic.
Notably, the bulk of this revenue came from sales of older games rather than recent releases. According to data from Alinea Analytics, only 21% of purchases during January through June 2026 were for games released in 2026 itself. This means 79% of games purchased were from 2025 or earlier, reflecting a growing trend of players revisiting and purchasing back-catalog titles.
This pattern of older games driving platform revenue has intensified in recent years. In 2024, games released that same year accounted for just 29% of Steam’s annual revenue, declining further to 27% in 2025. The data suggests that established, mature titles continue to outperform new releases in generating Steam’s financial success, highlighting both the enduring appeal of the platform’s extensive library and questions about player preferences for proven gaming experiences over newly released content.