Steam has recorded $11.1 billion (approximately 16.58 trillion KRW) in total game sales for the first half of this year. This is the highest figure for any six-month period in the platform's history.

The market research firm Alinea Analytics announced the total sales for Steam in the first half of 2026 on the 9th (local time). The total revenue of $11.1 billion is a record high for a half-year period. This represents a 14.5% increase compared to the first half of last year and an 8% increase compared to the second half of last year, a period typically marked by higher consumer spending.

When looking at a broader timeframe, Steam's consistent growth is evident. Sales have increased for seven consecutive half-year periods from H2 2022 to H1 2026. Furthermore, revenue for H1 2026 is 4.7 times larger than that of H1 2017, and it has surpassed the total annual sales of 2020, the year when gaming engagement surged due to the pandemic.

Key factors cited include the increase in Asian users, particularly from China, rising prices for new titles, the viral success of co-op games, smarter sales strategies for older titles by major publishers, and the return of third-party publishers to Steam after previously attempting to use their own proprietary launchers.

Regarding catalog titles, Alinea Analytics noted that while new releases accounted for 29% of total revenue in H1 2024 and 27% in H1 2025, that share dropped to 21% in H1 2026. In other words, the share of revenue from older titles increased from 71% to 79%.

Alinea Analytics analyzed that this shift is due to publishers becoming more adept at promoting older titles through discounts and bundles, increased competition as more games accumulate on Steam, and a combination of diminishing returns in graphical advancements and a stagnant hardware market, leading players to gravitate toward proven existing titles.

Finally, the top-grossing new titles on Steam for the first half of the year were revealed. 1st place is Forza Horizon 6 ($197.6 million), 2nd is Resident Evil: Requiem ($194.5 million), 3rd is Crimson Desert ($190.1 million), 4th is Slay the Spire 2 ($141.7 million), and 5th is Subnautica 2 ($133.6 million). Metcha Chameleon, which launched on June 10th and surpassed 15 million units sold, also stood out with $71.3 million.