Why Our PC Game Distribution Report Went Viral

In October, we released ‘The State of PC Game Distribution’, an in-depth study of 306 PC game developers to understand where games are sold today, developer attitudes towards Steam’s monopoly and the key distribution challenges and opportunities facing the games industry.

With the report quickly gaining media coverage in the likes of GamesBeat, GamesIndustry.biz and 80 Level, it was clear that the topic of game distribution was of high interest to the games industry!

While we expected the game distribution findings to resonate with game studios, we were thrilled to see consumer media interest in the findings too, with over 80 articles written about the report! The sheer volume of coverage, from industry giants like Dexerto and GamesRadar to international outlets like IGN Turkiye and Gigazine, proved one thing: players truly care about where they buy their PC games from. The international pickup underscores that the complexities of distribution are a global issue, with coverage spanning from Japan to Turkiye.

The headline finding that captured the most attention was this: 72% of game developers surveyed agreed that Steam has a monopoly on PC games.

This figure immediately sparked a lively, friendly debate across the industry. Some journalists, like the author of this PC Gamer article, agreed with the findings; meanwhile, other industry analysts, such as Mat Piscatella, challenged the use of the term 'monopoly' on BlueSky.

And it wasn’t only journalists who commented on the findings. Following the media coverage, the Steam headline finding gained traction across Reddit, with more than 6,000 comments across subreddits such as r/games, r/gaming and r/pcgaming. This was joined by prominent YouTuber Discussion with prolific content creators such as Steve Saylor and Penguinz0 discussing the report to an audience of millions.

But whether you agree or disagree Steam has a monopoly, this debate confirms our initial intent: to open up a conversation about where games are sold today, and we’re thrilled it achieved just that. It shows that Steam isn’t the only platform for game distribution, and players and developers alike are keen to challenge and discuss the channels where PC games are sold and bought.

The viral discussion around Steam’s dominance is underpinned by developer concerns from our initial report. A striking 88% of studios we surveyed report that Steam accounts for over 75% of their revenue. Given this overwhelming reliance, 53% of developers are concerned about their vulnerability on a single platform. At Rokky, we’re not here to challenge Valve or undermine Steam; we recognise it will remain the dominant force in PC distribution. Steam should be an essential part of your distribution strategy, but it shouldn’t be the only place your PC game is sold. Online e-stores and marketplaces provide new opportunities to reach global players. With the right partner, diversifying beyond Steam can unlock a multi-channel approach that maximises reach and revenue while protecting against the grey market.

The message from the player community and the global media is clear: gamers across the globe care about where you are distributing your game. If you are concerned about your reliance on a single platform, the data shows your competitors are already diversifying.

To explore new revenue opportunities by selling your game beyond Steam, contact the Rokky team today.