How much does it cost to publish an app on Steam?
To publish an app on Steam, you will need to pay a one-time fee of $100, and there is also a 30% commission on every sale made on Steam, which means you’ll make 70% of every sale. The $100 fee is nonrefundable, but it can be recouped once your product has generated at least $1,000 adjusted gross revenue from the Steam Store and in-app purchases.
Understanding Steam Publishing Costs
The cost to publish on Steam is relatively straightforward, with a flat rate for each game submission. This fee allows developers to distribute their games to a vast audience, leveraging Steam’s massive user base and marketing capabilities.
Detailed Breakdown of Steam Fees
- Base Fee: A one-time payment of $100 for each game submitted to Steam.
- Revenue Share: Steam takes a 30% cut of the first $10 million in sales, 25% for sales between $10 million and $50 million, and 20% for every sale after the initial $50 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the process to publish a game on Steam? The process involves creating a Steamworks Account, preparing your game for Steam, setting up your game’s store page, uploading your game build, setting up pricing and distribution, submitting your game for review, and launching your game on Steam.
- How much does Steam charge developers? Steam charges a revenue share that varies based on sales: 30% for the first $10 million, 25% for $10 million to $50 million, and 20% after $50 million.
- Is it worth publishing on Steam? Yes, considering 50% to 70% of the world’s PC game downloads are through Steam, with over 121 million visits and support for 29 languages.
- How much does it cost to put a game on the App Store? The annual cost for the Apple Developer Program is $99, which includes the ability to submit apps and access to various benefits.
- How much does it cost to publish a game on the Play Store? There is a one-time fee of $25 for the first application, with no additional cost for subsequent apps.
- Can I publish my game for free? Yes, platforms like Itch.io, Game Jolt, Kongregate, and Amazon AppStore offer free or low-cost options for publishing games.
- How much does it cost to publish a game on Epic Games? The submission fee per game on the Epic Games Store is $100, similar to Steam’s fee, with requirements for certain features like crossplay for multiplayer games.
- Can I sell my Steam games? No, due to digital distribution being more like “renting for life,” games added to your library are activated for your account and cannot be resold.
- Why does Steam have a $5 minimum? To combat spam, scam, and phishing by restricting access to certain community features until an account has spent at least $5.00 USD in Steam.
- How much would it cost to own everything on Steam? Calculating the total cost involves scraping data from Steam, which can fluctuate constantly due to new releases and sales.
- How much does it cost to launch an app? The cost to create a mobile application can range from $30,000 to $250,000, with an average of $171,450.
- How does a free app make money? Free apps make money primarily through ads, with payments for views, clicks, or installations from advertisements.
- Can you publish on Steam for free? No, there is a $100 fee for each game submitted on Steam Direct, though it can be recouped after $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue.
- Do you need an LLC to publish on Steam? While not required, having an LLC is recommended for the protections it offers.
- How much money can you make from publishing a game on Steam? The potential earnings depend on the game’s price, sales volume, and Steam’s revenue share, but developers keep 70% of the sale price after Steam’s cut.