Steam: Highest Revenue in History in H1 2026

Steam achieved record-breaking financial performance in the first half of 2026, generating an estimated $11.1 billion in gross revenue. This figure represents a 14.5% year-over-year increase compared to the first half of 2025 and an 8% rise over the second half of 2025. The platform’s growth trajectory is significant, with H1 2026 revenue nearly matching the total annual revenue recorded in 2021 and exceeding the entirety of 2020. These findings are based on proprietary estimations from Alinea Analytics, which utilizes its own game sales tracking platform to monitor market activity.

Several factors are driving this expansion, including a notable influx of players from Asian markets, particularly China, and a strategic shift by major publishers to return to the platform after previously utilizing proprietary launchers. Additionally, the industry is seeing higher price points for new releases and more sophisticated management of back-catalog titles. Data indicates that the revenue share derived from new releases has declined from 29% in H1 2024 to 21% in H1 2026, while older titles now account for 79% of total revenue. This shift suggests that publishers are successfully leveraging discounts, bundles, and timed sales to maintain the long-term viability of their existing libraries.

Top-performing titles in the first half of 2026 include Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requiem, and Crimson Desert, all of which generated significant revenue shortly after launch. While early access titles like Slay the Spire 2 and Subnautica 2 have achieved high unit sales, their revenue impact varies based on price points and conversion rates. Overall, the data underscores Steam’s continued dominance as a primary distribution hub, with total annual revenue having grown from approximately $5.5 billion in 2017 to an estimated $20 billion by the end of 2025.