The VG Insights service estimated that from January to June, premium games on Steam earned a total of $3.1 billion (excluding IAP). Although this is 3% more than last year, it’s too early to rejoice. As analysts have suggested, by the end of 2022, the total sales of such titles will remain at the level of 2021 or even fall.
VG Insights noted that since April, sales of premium games have consistently been below the figures for 2021. There are five key reasons for the fall — the cancellation of lockdowns, the decline in gamers’ incomes, the postponement of releases, the growing availability of consoles, as well as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
However, analysts believe that in 2023, sales of premium games on Steam may grow again, but perhaps not as much as in previous years.