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 due to several factors: digital production has removed shelf restrictions, development tools have become cheaper and more accessible, and now you don't need a major publisher to launch a game.
Schreier notes that the market is becoming "almost impassable." Teams of hundreds of developers spend years on projects that may disappear on the day of release. Even games with good reviews are barely noticeable: more than 120 projects in 2025 received over 80 points on Metacritic, but only those close to 90 get visibility and sales.
The situation affects all levels: it is difficult for indie studios to break through, and large publishers risk 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, most are lost in the noise.