Latest estimates show over 14,000 new titles launched on Steam in 2023 | All signs suggest it was a record-breaking year for new releases on Steam

[Gamernyc78]

Latest estimates show over 14,000 new titles launched on Steam in 2023

All signs suggest it was a record-breaking year for new releases on Steam.

www.gamedeveloper.com

2023 was seemingly a record-breaking year for new releases on Steam with over 14,000 titles launching on the storefront over the last 12 months.

That's according to the latest estimates from SteamDB, which indicate that 14,531 games were released on the digital marketplace in 2023. It's a significant upswing on the previous record set during 2022, when an estimated 12,562 titles landed on Steam.

October 2023 was also the most saturated month for new releases on record, with 1,324 titles hitting the storefront during that window.

SteamDB's data suggests the number of annual Steam releases has been on a near-continuous upward trajectory since the platform opened its doors to third-party developers in 2005, with the only significant blip occurring in 2019 when the number of annual releases fell to 8,134 in 2019 from 8,900 in 2018.

*Credit thickthighs gaf

 

[Gamernyc78]

Steam putting tht work in. I feel like getting a semi capable PC just to take advantage of Steam.

 

[Evilnemesis8]

Not too surprising considering the year we've had. Not only did a lot of heavy hitters come out, but a lot of different games of all sizes did release(a lot of them fell through the cracks, but that's another matter).

Then you add the growth of Steam in Asia and other minor regions and suddenly(in the last 2-3~ years) the financial viability of language/region specific releases has grown tremendously on the platform. We don't really notice those releases, but they're there.

 

[Gamernyc78]

Not too surprising considering the year we've had. Not only did a lot of heavy hitters come out, but a lot of different games of all sizes did release(a lot of them fell through the cracks, but that's another matter).

Then you add the growth of Steam in Asia and other minor regions and suddenly(in the last 2-3~ years) the financial viability of language/region specific releases has grown tremendously on the platform. We don't really notice those releases, but they're there.

Alot of value and good stuff on Steam.

 

[Yurinka]

That's an average of 40 games released per day during 2023

 

[flaccidsnake]

If Epic would just die, PC gaming would be in great shape.

 

[Nhomnhom]

With all those games my Steam year in review was like 50% Baldur's Gate 3 and 50% project Zomboid.

 

[Zzero]

With the amount of trash released these numbers post, like, 2015 are worthless. How many purchases? How much revenue? How much profit? And as a private company they don't have to say anything.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

With the amount of trash released these numbers post, like, 2015 are worthless. How many purchases? How much revenue? How much profit? And as a private company they don't have to say anything.

Yep. That's why none of this is particularly impressive. But some people see a big number and they get googly-eyed. "Oooh, big and SHINY! Me LIKE!!", hence why reports like these work on so many.

You don't even have to pay a fee to put a game on Steam, as many of these releases are fangames and mod patches for existing titles. It's a lot of choice, for sure, but with that amount of titles you're guaranteed many are junk and not worth your time.

Also there are other things, such as if games previously released getting updates that replace the older edition (with the addition reconstituting it as a new release, for example), is counted as a new game release? Because that type of stuff can pad the numbers.

 

[Evilnemesis8]

How many purchases?

People buy a lot of games, they also spend a lot of extra revenue into GaaS.

How much revenue?

A stupid amount, I'm sure.

How much profit?

Fairly high margins compared to the rest of the industry.
They don't employ nearly as much employees as the other publishers/platform holders and they also don't develop that many video games either.
We know they had 360 Employees back in 2016 due to legal fillings related to a lawsuit.
They're probably around 700-900~ right now because of how much their store has grown plus they're generally doing more game development(it doesn't mean they're coming out) in recent times.

I mean, look at this article : https://luxurylaunches.com/transport/gabe-newell-luxury-yachts.php

This is merely a portion of the amount of wealth that being the majority shareholder of Valve brings you.
Which is obscene amount , but this is Free Market capitalism for you.

 

[Infinity]

Yep. That's why none of this is particularly impressive. But some people see a big number and they get googly-eyed. "Oooh, big and SHINY! Me LIKE!!", hence why reports like these work on so many.

You don't even have to pay a fee to put a game on Steam, as many of these releases are fangames and mod patches for existing titles. It's a lot of choice, for sure, but with that amount of titles you're guaranteed many are junk and not worth your time.

Also there are other things, such as if games previously released getting updates that replace the older edition (with the addition reconstituting it as a new release, for example), is counted as a new game release? Because that type of stuff can pad the numbers.

Steam has plenty of good pc exclusives titles. But yes their is a lot of junk. But still plenty of good pc titles.

You do have to pay to put your game on Steam. A fee of 100 dollars. Pc by far has the most exclusives

 

[arvfab]

If Epic would just die, PC gaming would be in great shape.

Why? Easiest money!

 

[Gamernyc78]

Steam has plenty of good pc exclusives titles. But yes their is a lot of junk. But still plenty of good pc titles.

You do have to pay to put your game on Steam. A fee of 100 dollars. Pc by far has the most exclusives

Exactly, we all know the other bs games that are on their just like other gaming services have bs on theres too but Steam has great overall value, structure, rating system etc so you can filter through tht bs. Tons of good stuff on there, the trash does not negate the good or change that this was a good feat.