With Steam enjoying a large catalog of games both free and paying, some have emerged to be more popular among users. Developers focus on users’ needs has seen some games end up generating more revenue on the platform.
Data gathered by Safe Betting Sites indicates that the top five most popular games on video game digital distribution service Steam cumulatively generated $2.03 billion in revenue. As of August 2020, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is the highest revenue generator at $730 million, representing 35.9% of the revenue by the five games. In the second spot, there Grand Theft Auto V which has generated a cumulative revenue of $470 million. In the third spot lies action role-playing game The Witcher 3:Wild Hunt with a revenue of $280 million.
Rust, a multiplayer-only survival video game occupies the fourth spot with also $280 million in revenue. In the fifth spot, there is ARK: Survival Evolved which has generated a cumulative revenue of $270 million. The two games’ cumulative revenue is at least $180 million less compared to PUBG’s returns.
PUBG units sales grow by 3,400%
Our research also overviewed the global cumulative unit sales of PUBG between May 2017 and July 2020. From the data, the cumulative unit sales have been rising significantly with July this year recording the figure at 70 million. The sales represent a percentage increase of 3,400% from the two million units sold in May 2017.
In June 2018, the cumulative unit sales stood at 50 million, a growth of 400% from the 10 million sales as of September 2017. In June 2017, the PUBG unit sales stood at four million representing an increase of 100% from May’s 2017 figure.
PUBG’s popularity is rooted in several factors. The creators adopted the double-dip digital marketing strategy. The creators gave the game to lots of streamers for playing on platforms such as Twitch and Youtube channels. With streamers loving the game, it spread rapidly among other gamers leading to high sales. The fanbase for the game was already existing thanks to the previous popular mods.
Additionally, the developers for the PUBG mobile app always update it regularly introducing new features. Also, PUBG’s ability to support low-end devices has led to its explosion in sales. This enables the game to cater to the majority of the growing smartphone market. Lower-end devices are still able to run the game without any significant deterioration in game-play.
Despite PUGB’s popularity, the developers had to deal with hackers resulting in speed hacks and aimbot. Additionally, the Stream Sniping meant that other players watched the streamers and learned of their location and kill them. Such an approach made the game lose its entertaining value among players. The developers later deployed the anti-cheat system which automatically bans someone who attempts to use cheats like aimbots or other hacks.
An overview of the game sales shows the cumulative sales rose significantly by July 2020, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. During the period, more people were confined to their homes meaning that they turned to activities like mobile gaming to kill time while in lockdown.
Most popular games on Steam
Most of the highest selling games on Steam are part of the battle royale games. These games are more popular since they involve lots of players and only one leaves. Battle royale is a violent, unpredictable, and frenzied multiplayer mode where the only goal is to endure until you’re the lone survivor. Notably, all tactics and styles of play are equally viable in most top battle royale games These factors have contributed immensely to the success of games like PUBG.
Steam has evolved to become a perfect platform for buying games both for mobile and PC thanks to factors like convenience. The platform does not require users to carry discs but just remember their usernames and passwords. Games carried on the platform are known to be more affordable. Steam has a lot of sales, and many of them are 75% off sales.
Additionally, Steam is on an expansion path since it enables users to play games, on computers that wouldn’t normally run games. Lastly, the platform has a good reputation for being user friendly, unlike similar services.
