More than half of developers feel they rely too heavily on Steam to distribute their games, with 72% believing the platform has a monopoly on the PC games market.
That's according to a new whitepaper from PC distribution platform Rokky titled 'The State of PC Game Distribution.'
The independent study, conducted by Atomik Research, surveyed 306 industry executives across the UK and USA between May 18 and May 22, 2025.
75% of respondents were senior managers of C-suite level, with 77% from studios with more than 50 employees.
The study found that for the majority of studios, Steam accounts for over 75% of revenue.
However, it also noted that developers have started utilising other platforms including the Epic Game Store and the Xbox PC Games store.
Almost half of those surveyed (48%) have distributed a title to both stores, while 10% have used GOG and 8% have used Itch.io.
Rokky does note that as its survey is "dominated by larger companies with diverse portfolios", a larger proportion use storefronts like the Epic Games Store rather than Itch.io, which aims to serve independent developers.
Elsewhere, the study found that 32% of developers release some of their games on physical media (disc, cartridges, and 'keys-in-boxes').
Marketplaces like G2A and Kinguin are also an option for distribution, as are E-stores such as Fanatical and Humble Bundle.
Developers highlighted benefits for both including ease of use, pricing control, promotional support, and international reach.
Data also showed that 80% of those surveyed expect to use alternative channels alongside Steam within five years.
75% predict they will see "at least a 10% uplift in revenue" from using marketplaces and E-stores in particular.
However, respondents voiced concerns regarding the gray market when using these platforms, as well as potential loss of control.
"With a growing prominence of E-stores and marketplaces, PC game distribution is more varied, vast, and complex than it has ever been," Rokky co-founder and CEO Vadim Andreev.
"New opportunities are everywhere as are pitfalls and challenges. And most of the old guard remain relevant. Understanding the nuances has never been more important, and so we created this report to highlight the trends that matter."
The whitepaper was published by the digital distribution platform Rokky. If you're wondering "who the heck is Rokky?" then it's a new distribution platform that aims to connect publishers with various digital storefronts around the globeOpinion discarded. Survey set up by a party who already has a grudge against Steam.
Opinion discarded. Survey set up by a party who already has a grudge against Steam.
Valve does nothing to enforce their monopoly. They don't stop devs from using other platforms in any way, they even allow devs to generate game keys at no cost and sell them on other websites like Fanatical and Humble.Yup, monopolies are only illegal if they unfairly use their position as a monopoly to keep others from entering the market and challenging them.
Only reason they have a monopoly is because they actually have a good service that attracts customers.
Yeah it sorta makes sense considering the massive functionality gap between steam and other options, but it definitely has its downsides too
What downside?steam's relatively small internal review team having a very outsized effect on what games can realistically be successful
You need to be able to discern bias from truth.99 times out of 100 you should disregard any scientific study heavily funded by one of the affected parties.
Someone having a bias or an agenda doesnt mean them wrong. Otherwise youd have to discount every scientific study that was funded in someway by a party or body or company that has a vested interest.
75% of respondents were senior managers of C-suite level, with 77% from studios with more than 50 employees.Uh huh
while 10% have used GOG and 8% have used Itch.io.UH HUH
They do, but by monopoly standards it hasn't hurt the consumers that badly...yet.That is my opinion as well. And they have made great strides with great features as well as allowng multiple store fronts (key resellers). Steam Proton in particular is amazing, making Linux gaming pretty seamless.
99 times out of 100 you should disregard any scientific study heavily funded by one of the affected parties.
Valve does nothing to enforce their monopoly. They don't stop devs from using other platforms in any way, they even allow devs to generate game keys at no cost and sell them on other websites like Fanatical and Humble.
Only reason they have a monopoly is because they actually have a good service that attracts customers.
steam's relatively small internal review team having a very outsized effect on what games can realistically be successfulEveryone reads the customer reviews anyways. Steam doesn't prevent a game from being successful no more than it does from preventing these devs from creating their own successful stores.
I'm sad to see that so few have put their games on GOG. My guess is they know it's an option but they're not okay with their game being sold without DRM.Thats basically what it is. The stupid thing is that companies still put other drm on top of steam.
Back in reality though scientific funding is incredibly hard to get and is almost never possible without some wealthy company backing ityes man, that's why the literal decades of research put out by the cigarette companies should totally be believed? the agriculture companies testing their pesticides? or every drug company ever really? there's a reason why you have independent research, why schools jockey for federal grant money, why there are supposed to be federal bodies that do their own testing, its because having your own products researched and tested is the definition of bias. statistics are the backbone of any research and are very easily manipulated, and many of these major companies will just lie about their methodology.
This is literally how all medical and food research is done
The important part is transparency and thoroughness in methodology and then additional studies by other parties
Opinion discarded. Survey set up by a party who already has a grudge against Steam.
It's not even Steam's fault they have a monopoly. It's more like a consumer monopoly. We choose to be on Steam. Anyone can go over to Epic or GoG they want to, but no one wants to because Steam is better and you have your library and friends on there.Sounds more like a service issue than a consumer issue.
yes man, that's why the literal decades of research put out by the cigarette companies should totally be believed? the agriculture companies testing their pesticides? or every drug company ever really? there's a reason why you have independent research, why schools jockey for federal grant money, why there are supposed to be federal bodies that do their own testing, its because having your own products researched and tested is the definition of bias. statistics are the backbone of any research and are very easily manipulated, and many of these major companies will just lie about their methodology.