Plus: What's Grossing the Best in Steam's Summer Sale?

This analysis examines the performance of PC and console games during the 2023 Steam Summer Sale, focusing on how seasonal discounting affects global top-grossing charts. The primary thesis suggests that high-quality AAA titles and "long-tail" evergreens dominate major sale periods, particularly when those titles are rarely discounted. The scope is global for Steam data, with specific regional focus on the United States for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch console performance during late June 2023.

Key findings indicate that seldom-discounted $60 games, such as Elden Ring and Dark Souls III, experience significant revenue surges when sales finally occur. The data also highlights the resilience of older titles like Rust and Forza Horizon 5, which maintain high grossing positions years after release. Conversely, the report identifies a trend where new releases often struggle to gain traction if they launch during a major Steam sale, as evidenced by a relatively quiet week for debuts. Notable exceptions include BattleBit Remastered and Dave the Diver, which maintained high concurrent user counts despite the competitive sale environment.

Methodology relies on proprietary data tracking, including Steam weekly post-release charts adjusted by review counts, peak concurrent user (CCU) metrics, and manual snapshots of console storefronts. On consoles, Final Fantasy XVI and Diablo IV remained dominant on PlayStation and Xbox, while Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life led recent third-party downloads on the Nintendo Switch eShop. The analysis concludes that while the Steam Summer Sale provides a massive revenue boost for established hits, it creates a difficult environment for new indie titles, leading many developers to avoid launching during these windows.