A gaming marketing analyst has recently described the userbase of Steam as “a bunch of drunken sailors who spend money irresponsibly.” While this comparison may rub some Steam fans the wrong way, the analyst, Chris Zukowski, supports his claims with compelling data.
His observations focus on the growing trend among gamers to accumulate vast libraries of games, many of which they may never actually play. Zukowski notes that players often possess more games than they have the time to explore.
Influences like exciting new releases, word-of-mouth recommendations, and seasonal discounts drive this behavior, leading many enthusiasts to indulge in game hoarding. This phenomenon raises the question of why gamers continue to purchase new titles despite having a backlog.
Compounding the issue, developers from a significant indie platform have expressed concern regarding their games being pilfered and resold on Steam by an unidentified publisher. Zukowski points out that a staggering percentage of players often don’t play their owned games, drawing parallels to hobbyists in other fields who are willing to spend on their interests regardless of usage.
According to data from the previous year, the average Steam user has only played about half of their purchased games, underscoring a pattern of “super gamers” who consistently buy without intentions to engage. Another factor contributing to this trend is the prevalence of sales; most Steam users admit to purchasing at least one game during a sale event.
The Steam Summer and Winter sales, in particular, entice players with significant discounts, prompting impulse purchases even when gamers are busy with other titles. Interestingly, related surveys have revealed that many PC gamers are still dedicating their time to older games.
Specifically, a study involving nearly 80,000 gamers showed that 67% of their gaming time was spent on titles over six years old, while 25% went toward games between two to five years old. This indicates that purchasing new games often occurs, even if they go unplayed.
As the gaming landscape continues to expand with both new releases and remakes of beloved classics, many players find themselves overwhelmed with options. Ultimately, whether this behavior stems from poor time management or a sense of optimism, it appears that the trend of spending like a “drunken sailor” isn’t changing anytime soon.