'Real Steam' predicts success for games on Steam

Charles Zukowski, a marketing strategist for video games, spoke at the Game Developers Conference 2025 about how to promote games on Steam. His talk addressed a common issue: how to get noticed among the millions of games on the platform. Zukowski introduced a new idea called "Real Steam." He described it as what happens when a game has a special quality—similar to falling in love—that attracts players. According to him, this “magic” can lead to success on Steam. He noted that games with good audience reactions often enjoy better sales. He provided statistics showing that in 2023, 1.7 million new Steam users remained active and spent $93 million. Zukowski explained that achieving "Real Steam" means generating $150,000 in revenue within six to nine months after release. Notably, 74% of games achieve this in the first three months. However, Zukowski warned that if a game doesn't get 250 reviews in its first month, it is unlikely to succeed. He shared an example of a game called "Beltmatic," which struggled initially but eventually gained traction and positive reviews. Zukowski emphasized the importance of user feedback and launching a quality game to attract attention on Steam. He concluded by noting that while many games fail to achieve success, having the "magic" can open doors to greater visibility and revenue on the platform.