According to the report, sales of new games priced below $30 on PC have grown by 156% since 2022. PlayStation and Xbox also show growth, but their market is still mainly driven by old hits and major franchises like Minecraft.
Analysts note that Steam has become the center of popularity for indie games and early access projects. Examples include Palworld, Lethal Company, and Dave the Diver. More and more PC players prefer to buy several smaller games instead of one AAA release for $70–80.
Because of this, some analysts believe that Sony and Microsoft may face problems. Consoles are still betting on expensive blockbusters and exclusives, while the PC market is actively growing due to cheaper and more experimental projects.
Analyst Mat Piscatella called PC players the "bright spot" of the industry. According to him, the Steam audience is much more willing to support new ideas and unusual projects than console users.