Just How Big Have PC & Console Game Catalogs Got?

This analysis examines the rapid expansion of video game catalogs across PC and console platforms and the resulting impact on discoverability and revenue. The primary thesis suggests that the industry has entered a "no-reset" era where the lack of hardware-based generational breaks, combined with digital backward compatibility, has created a permanent state of high supply. This saturation forces new releases to compete not only with contemporary titles but also with a massive, deeply discounted back catalog of established hits.

Data indicates that Steam’s catalog grew from approximately 6,000 titles in 2016 to 80,000 by the end of 2023, with over 14,000 games released in 2023 alone. Console ecosystems show similar, if smaller-scale, trends. The Nintendo Switch added 2,600 games in 2023 for a total of 11,500, while PlayStation and Xbox reached totals of 7,000 and 6,000 titles respectively. This surge in supply has not been met by a proportional increase in player demand, leading to a decline in median revenue for professionally funded games and a greater reliance on deep discounting for older titles. For example, one major indie publisher saw its average gross revenue per catalog title drop from $1 million in 2020 to less than $600,000 in 2023, despite having 75% more games in its portfolio.

The scope of this research covers major global digital storefronts including Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox, utilizing data from 2013 through early 2024. Methodology relies on data synthesis from GameDiscoverCo, SteamDB, DekuDeals, and GamingAnalytics.info. The findings conclude that developers must adapt to a "new normal" where graphical fidelity and team size no longer guarantee success, and long-tail revenue is increasingly cannibalized by the sheer volume of available market choices.