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Viral Bongo Cat Tops Steam Charts as It Loses Money for Developer

Limited microtransaction earnings coupled with heavy bot engagement have driven 50,000 Steam wishlists for Irox Games’ next title Oku.

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Steam logo over games background

Overview

  • Bongo Cat attracts over 160,000 concurrent players on Steam, ranking it among the platform’s top five most-played titles.
  • Irox Games reports that in-game cosmetic sales generate around $3,000 per month, leaving the project financially unprofitable.
  • CEO Marcel Zurawka estimates roughly half of the game’s active sessions are automated bot accounts farming cosmetic items.
  • Created in just a few weeks as a free-to-play desktop pet, Bongo Cat was conceived primarily as a promotional vehicle rather than a revenue driver.
  • The game’s unexpected virality has translated into significant interest for Oku, securing 50,000 wishlists on Steam ahead of its release.