Valve has finally lifted the veil. The company behind Steam has officially revealed how the hotly contested bestseller lists are really calculated. This is what lies behind the mysterious algorithms.
How Steam top sellers are calculated
For a long time, there have been rumors and speculations about what factors make a game a Steam top seller. Many probably still think that the number of sales alone is the decisive factor – but that is far from the case! In fact, the Sales volume – also units sold times price – the most important factorwhen it comes to the place on the top sellers list. But Valve is now making it clear: There’s more to it than that.
In the real-time view of the top sellers on Steam, you can see the most successful regional games, the Most sales within the last 24 hours In order to be able to more quickly display games in the top sellers that are suddenly experiencing a hype, Steam gives the sales figures of the last three hours a particularly high weighting – but exactly how high remains a secret.
Game sales are only half of Steam top sellers’ rent
In addition to the revenue from game sales, the revenue from In-game purchases and Additional content This means that a game that provides its players with continuous content and has an active community can now more easily play its way into the upper ranks. This also explains why free-to-play games such as Counter-Strike 2 or PUBG are so high up in the list after major updates.
According to Valve, the new calculation basis should ensure that the Steam list Not only is it dominated by expensive blockbustersGames that shine through regular updates, expansions and a loyal fan base now have a good chance of holding their own against the big market leaders. This means that indie gems with creative ideas can also make a breakthrough (source: Steam).
For developers, the new system sends a clear message: Long-term success pays off. Those who regularly maintain and expand their games will be rewarded with a place on the popular bestseller lists.
If you often visit the Steam store, you should be particularly careful not to fall for this cheeky machine:
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