A gaming marketing analyst examining Steam’s thriving success has likened its userbase to “a group of drunken sailors who spend their money recklessly.” While this could be seen as offensive by some Steam enthusiasts, the analyst backs his claim with data.

It’s often joked that gamers own more titles than they can possibly play, yet they continue to invest in new games. Sales, buzz from peers, and the absence of physical storage contribute to this trend of accumulating games. This behavioral pattern is what the analyst aims to explore.

In a related discussion, Chris Zukowski highlights that many gamers purchase titles during sales events without genuine intentions of playing them. He identifies a significant issue where many players never engage with the games they own. According to data, the average Steam user has only played around half of their library’s offerings. This leads to a phenomenon of “super gamers” who continue to make purchases despite their lack of future gameplay intentions.

Reasons for Users’ Purchasing Habits

Additional factors influence these buying habits. Many Steam users report buying games during significant price drops. Seasonal sales events are particularly pivotal for gamers, provoking impulsive purchases regardless of their existing workloads or commitments to playing new titles.
Moreover, a prior survey indicated that a majority of PC gamers gravitate towards older titles, contributing to the observation that time spent gaming often leans towards games aged six years or more. Even as top-notch new releases hit the market constantly, players find it increasingly difficult to allocate sufficient time to explore their gaming interests.
The tendency to overspend in gaming can be attributed to mismanaged time or an overly optimistic outlook regarding their available gaming hours, and such trends are unlikely to alter in the near future.