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5h ago

Survey: 72% of Game Executives Call Steam a Monopoly as Studios Weigh Alternatives

A Rokky-commissioned study underscores developers’ heavy revenue dependence on Valve’s store, prompting debate over whether Steam’s dominance meets the definition of a monopoly.

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An image of the Steam logo in front of a pile of money
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Overview

  • Atomik Research surveyed 306 US and UK industry executives in May 2025 for Rokky’s whitepaper on PC distribution.
  • Most respondents said Steam provides over 75% of their studios’ PC revenue, reinforcing reliance on a single storefront.
  • Despite that dependence, 80% expect to add alternative channels alongside Steam within the next five years.
  • Distribution beyond Steam is uneven: 48% have used the Epic Games Store and Xbox’s PC store, while 10% used GOG and 8% used Itch.io.
  • The survey’s makeup (75% C‑suite, 77% from studios with 50+ employees) and analysts like Circana’s Mat Piscatella fueled pushback on the ‘monopoly’ label, even as concerns about gray‑market risks persist.