Over a third of the games released on Steam in 2025 may not have earned enough to cover the $100 submission fee, according to analytics from the site Gamalytic.

Reports from GamesRadar highlight that approximately 13,000 new games have been launched on Steam this year, a number highlighted by Soulash developer Artur Smiarowski over on X. Although not quite reaching the staggering 18,000 releases of 2024, this total is nearly equal to 2023.

“Over 13,000 games have been released on Steam this year so far. 8% of the releases are estimated to have grossed over $100k. 40% didn’t see a return on their $100 release cost. We might have reached the peak of the indie gold rush last year.” — Artur Smiarowski, October 20, 2025

Given the influx of new titles, many inevitably fall short of visibility, with almost 40% of 2025’s Steam games reportedly making under $1,000 to recover their submission costs.

Smiarowski notes that around 8% of 2025’s Steam games (approximately 1,140 titles) have grossed over $100,000, indicating a steady return on investment for some developers. While Gamalytic’s methodology may not be entirely precise due to Steam’s limited data release, it nevertheless provides a compelling overview of the current landscape in gaming, and underscores the challenges developers face in gaining traction in an ever-crowded marketplace.