Steam Users Continue Favoring Older Games Despite New Releases in 2024

NEW YORK, December 20, 2024 – Steam Replay has revealed intriguing ideas about the game habits of its community, highlighting a ​constant trend: most game times among users are dedicated to old games, despite ​many new high-end versions in 2024. According to IGN, only 15% of ​the game time this year was spent on the games released in 2024, a modest increase of 9% in 2023, but still a clear indication of the loyalty of the players to ​the old titles.

The figure ​of ​15% reflects the game ​time ​in the remarkable 2024 versions such as Palworld, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, and the massively popular Banana. Recent additions such as Path of Exile 2 and Marvel Rivals have also seen an impressive ​number of players. However, most hours of play were devoted to the favourites of previous years, reaffirming a model observed in previous years.

Other domain ​Game time games

Steam Replay data shows that 47% of the total game time was spent on games published between one ​and seven years, classified as recent favourites. In addition, 37% of playtime was spent on classic games, ​entitled “released eight years or more ago”. Among the ​long-term classics are Civilization 6, published in 2016, which continues to captivate players from around the world. The oldest popular titles like Counter-Strike 2, PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG) ​and Dota 2 remain accessories on Steam’s ​most played list, as well as ​other ​stories like Naraka: Bladepaint, GTA 5, ​Rust and Apex Legends.

As PC Gamer pointed out, this trend extends beyond Steam. In April, data revealed that more than 60% of PC and console gaming platforms in 2023 were dedicated to games for at least six years, with Fortnite leading the package on ​all platforms. These results highlight the difficulties that publishers face ​in attracting players away from their established favourites, especially the titles in ​which players have invested a lot of time and money ​to build ​their assets into the game and progress.

Incrémental Uptick in ​Playtime for new titles

Despite the field of older games, the ​proportion of 15% ​of ​playing ​time for 2024 is showing a remarkable improvement on the figure of ​2023. Last year, only 9% of the game time was spent on the games that year, which included important titles like ​Hogwarts Legacy and Baldur’s Gate ​3. For an additional context, the proportion was higher in ​2022 at 17%, indicating a fluctuating trend in players’ participation in ​new versions. As IGN noted, this ​year’s increase suggests incremental progress for new titles ​by capturing players’ attention.

Important commercial ​successes, such ​as ​those recorded ​by Palworld, Helldivers 2 and Black Myth: Wukong, dispel the idea that ​players ​avoid new purchases. These titles managed ​to have a significant presence despite the ​competitive landscape dominated by the old games. According to IGN, publishers continue to be passionate about the challenge of attracting players ​away ​from their established game routines.

Player ​participation ​Highlight average habits

Steam Replay also illuminates the typical levels of engagement of ​its users. ​The average number of games played by a Steam user this year was only four, and the average number of results released was 13. ​These measures suggest that many players focus their time on selected titles, rather than exploring a ​wide range of games. As IGN has ​noted with humor, players who ​have only agitated ​in a handful of PC games this year are far from ​being alone in their habits.

This game-oriented approach is aligned with the broader trend of players who ​adhere to ​family titles. The strength of ​these titles lies not only in their game, but also in the community and ecosystem around them. As analysts have pointed out, social and monetary ​investors ​are making old games of barriers to the entry of new versions, including those that offer cutting-edge graphics and innovative mechanisms.

Challenges for publishers in ​a mass market

The sustainable appeal of old games poses an ​important challenge for game developers and publishers. ​With players already immersed in ecosystems such ​as Dota ​2 or Counter-Strike, new launches face a difficult battle to capture a sustained commitment from players. As industry experts have pointed out, publishers are increasingly dependent on ​robust marketing strategies and ​innovative ​gaming features to ​differentiate their offerings. However, the data indicate that fidelity ​to ​established games often exceeds the appeal of novelty.

In ​addition, multiplayer and live service models in many old titles contribute ​to their longevity. Players often return to these games for ​regular updates, community ​events, and the ​opportunity to continue ​developing ​their assets in the game. For ​publishers, this ​means navigating a complex landscape where quality alone cannot ​be sufficient to ensure success.

As Wesley from IGN ​Yin-Poole pointed out, the evolution of the dynamics ​of the gaming industry underscores the need for a nuanced approach to understanding the player’s ​behaviour. ​As the new titles continue to mark, the field of older games ​underscores the importance of building lasting player relationships and offering continuous ​value.

In conclusion, Steam Replay’s ideas offer a fascinating view of the changing preferences of the ​gaming community. While the new versions of ​2024 ​have made ​incremental progress in capturing the player’s attention, the lasting appeal of old ​games remains ​a defining feature of the game landscape. These trends reflect not ​only the quality and ​depth of old securities, but also the changing habits of players in an increasingly diversified ​and competitive market.