Valve's gaming platform Steam generated approximately $11.1 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026 – a 14.5 percent increase compared to the same period the year before and the highest half-year figure in the platform's history. The number does not come from Valve itself, but from independent analyses by GameDiscoverCo. Steam has already surpassed the full-year revenue of 2020 and is closing in on the all-time record set during the pandemic year of 2021. After the half-year mark, the platform reportedly added another half billion dollars, pushing the 2026 total toward $11.6 billion.
What stands out is the composition of this success. Roughly 79 percent of the revenue came from the back catalog – games that did not release in 2026. This confirms a trend that has been solidifying for years: live-service titles, evergreen hits, and established franchises dominate the charts, while new releases must fight harder than ever for visibility. Anyone launching a new game on Steam in 2026 either needs a powerful brand name or a concept that clicks instantly.
This is exactly where the story gets interesting. At the top of the 2026 newcomers, familiar names lead the way. Forza Horizon 6 tops the list with an estimated $197.7 million, benefiting from Microsoft releasing the franchise on Steam day-and-date with the Microsoft Store. With around 3.5 million copies sold, it sends a clear signal: PC gamers reach for their wallets in bulk when a long-locked franchise suddenly becomes platform-open. Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem follows close behind at roughly $194.5 million on 3.4 million copies sold, reinforcing the horror series' reputation as a reliable PC performer.
But the real surprise is Crimson Desert. The brand did not exist before, has no predecessor, and no recognizable name recognition – yet it still managed to generate over $190 million on Steam. In March 2026 alone, the game sold more than two million copies there. In an era when analysts keep announcing the end of Steam's easy launch days, Crimson Desert proves that a strong game concept can still break through. Slay the Spire 2 also showed in March with over five million units sold that brilliant indie concepts can scale even further in a second generation.
For the nerd community, this half-year signals one thing above all: the platform has matured. Where Steam used to be a wild marketplace full of undiscovered gems, today brand power, community hype, and a perfectly timed launch decide success or failure. Anyone launching a new IP has to deliver – immediately. The fact that Crimson Desert, a completely new mark, breaks into the ranks of established franchise giants is both a warning and a motivation: innovation gets rewarded, but only when it happens at the highest level.