The market is so saturated that even high-quality games risk going unnoticed.
The numbers are impressive: according to Schreier, 18,626 games were released on Steam in 2024, which is 93% more than in 2020. The growth is attributed to several factors: digital production has removed shelf limitations, development tools have become cheaper and more accessible, and a major publisher is no longer needed to launch a game.
Schreier notes that the market is becoming "almost impassable." Teams of hundreds of developers spend years on projects that can disappear on release day. Even games with good reviews are barely noticeable: over 120 projects from 2025 received over 80 points on Metacritic, but only those close to 90 receive visibility and sales.
The situation affects all levels: it is difficult for indie studios to break through, and large publishers take risks by investing millions. The post-COVID crisis has exacerbated instability, causing layoffs and studio closures. Schreier emphasizes the paradox: never before have so many quality games been released, but success goes to only a few, with most lost in the noise.