Steam, with millions of users worldwide, stands out with its extensive library of games and digital content. However, it has also become a ‘dumping ground’ for many gamers. Researchers examining Steam expenditures have found that nearly $19 billion worth of games were purchased but never played.
Steam expenditures on games that were never opened amount to $19 billion
According to a new study conducted in the US, Steam users have purchased approximately $19 billion worth of games and DLC packs that they have never played. Researchers analyzed public Steam profiles of 73 million accounts that had never played certain games.
It was estimated that this accounted for around $1.9 billion among 73 million users. This figure represents only about 10% of the total Steam user base, indicating that the total cost of unplayed games could be as high as $19 billion when accounting for private profiles as well.
Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree has received "mixed" reviews on Steam due to difficulty and performance issues.
Many users were noted to have numerous RPGs or open-world games in their libraries, contributing to the list of unplayed titles. Games like The Witcher 3, GTA 4, or Elden Ring were particularly mentioned as being purchased during discount periods but remained unplayed.
Some users commented humorously on the findings, suggesting that gamers could have crowdfunded Valve’s development of Half-Life 3 with the $19 billion.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Steam Summer Sale 2024 begins on June 27th at 20:00 UTC and runs until July 11th. These sale days are particularly significant for players in Turkey, given recent changes like the removal of the Turkish lira from the platform and the increase in game prices, making discounts even more attractive.
