Ten games released on Steam in 2023 generated an estimated 61% of full-game sales revenue from all games released on Steam that year, according to Video Game Insights (VGI). That figure is not 61% of all Steam revenue: GamesBeat reported that the same ten represented about 20% of Steam’s full-game revenue across the entire catalogue in 2023.
What the 61% figure measures
VGI’s Global PC Games Market Report 2024 estimates revenue for games released on Steam in 2023, then compares the top ten with that release-year group. The report gives the ten games 61% of the cohort’s full-game revenue. Its estimated total for all 2023 Steam releases was about $3.1 billion, while Steam’s estimated full-game revenue across the entire catalogue was $9.0 billion. The report’s summary of Steam revenue and trends also describes the $9.0 billion total.
The different denominators explain why the figures can sound contradictory. GamesBeat’s coverage of VGI’s analysis says the ten accounted for about 20% of all Steam full-game revenue in 2023. The 61% figure asks how much of revenue from 2023 releases went to those ten; the 20% figure asks how much of revenue from every Steam game went to them.
What counts as revenue
VGI defines “full game revenue” as direct sales of the base game. It excludes downloadable content and microtransactions. Its estimates are based on estimated units sold multiplied by price, with adjustments for regional currencies, Steam’s cut, refunds or returns, and discounts. VGI says it uses multiple approaches to estimate sales, including an internal sales-data algorithm and a method based on Steam review counts.
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These are estimates, not Valve disclosures or audited sales figures. VGI states in the report that all its data are estimates and that it is not affiliated with Steam or Valve.
The ten highest-grossing Steam releases of 2023
VGI’s figures below are estimated Steam full-game revenue for 2023. They are not global franchise revenue or publisher-reported totals.
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| Rank | Game | Estimated Steam full-game revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baldur’s Gate 3 | $657 million |
| 2 | Hogwarts Legacy | $341 million |
| 3 | Starfield | $235 million |
| 4 | Resident Evil 4 | $159 million |
| 5 | Sons Of The Forest | $116 million |
| 6 | ARMORED CORE VI | $87 million |
| 7 | EA SPORTS FC 24 | $81 million |
| 8 | STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor | $68 million |
| 9 | Lethal Company | $52 million |
| 10 | Cities: Skylines II | $50 million |
Baldur’s Gate 3 led the list at an estimated $657 million. VGI says that was 21% of the full-game revenue it attributed to all Steam games released in 2023.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How concentrated were sales beyond the top ten?
The concentration extended past the top ten: VGI estimates that the top 100 releases took 91% of full-game revenue from the 2023 release cohort. The remaining 13,871 releases accounted for the other 9%. The report’s chart lists 13,971 releases in total; its headline rounds that count to about 14,000.
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VGI’s historical comparison also shows the top ten’s share of their respective release-year revenue rising from 37% in 2016 to 41% in 2019, 51% in 2022, and 61% in 2023. That series supports a conclusion of rising concentration over the years it covers, but it does not establish what happened after 2023.
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How to read the headline
- “Over 60%” refers to new releases. It is the estimated share of full-game revenue earned by the ten leading games among titles released on Steam in 2023.
- It does not mean they took over 60% of all Steam revenue. GamesBeat reports the same ten at about 20% of all Steam full-game revenue in 2023.
- The statistic excludes add-on spending. Under VGI’s definition, DLC and microtransactions are not part of full-game revenue.
- The amounts are third-party estimates. Valve has not disclosed these figures as official audited totals; VGI’s methodology and disclaimer are in its report.
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