Steam is one of the world's leading PC gaming platforms. Since its founding in 2003 by Valve, it has become an indispensable part of the gaming world. Players can purchase, download and play games via Steam. With a selection of over 50,000 titles, from indie gems to AAA blockbusters, the platform offers something for every taste. In addition to pure distribution, Steam also offers social functions, cloud storage and regular discount campaigns that make it easier for players to discover older titles – and this is exactly what is becoming the new downfall for titles.
New games take a back seat
The recently published statistics from “Steam Replay 2024” shed an interesting light on the gaming behavior of users. Only 15% of the playing time Worldwide this year was invested in titles released in 2024. This number seems small at first glance, but it makes a difference Slight increases compared to 2023where the proportion was only 9%. The majority of playing time falls on older titles: 47% on games that are between one and seven years oldand 37% on games released over eight years ago.
The data shows that even new top titles often compete with the sheer volume of older games. Online titles in particular benefit from experienced players. But established modding communities also make older games more attractive for many players. There are also regular discount campaigns such as Steam's Winter Sale, which is currently underway again, where players can purchase high-quality titles for just a few euros. It's also no wonder that older games take up a significant amount of playing time.
No question of quality
Although 2024 with titles like Helldivers 2, Frostpunk 2 and Black Myth: Wukong Although there were some top-class releases to offer, the offer is not enough to break the dominance of the older games – it is also not due to the quality of the new games. Steam players are known for acquiring an extensive collection of games, many of which remain unplayed. This “pile of shame” is often increased during discount campaigns and is only “reduced” by many years later.
Another factor is the increasing quality and longevity of older games. Classics like The Witcher 3, Skyrim or multiplayer titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive continue to enjoy great popularity as they are constantly being updated or expanded with mods.
The large selection and regular special offers on Steam are undoubtedly a huge advantage for gamers. However, they also promote a certain reluctance towards new releases. Whether this will become a problem for developers in the long term remains to be seen. Which game was your most played title this year? Please let us know in the comments!
