Steam’s dominance unsettles: 72% of developers fear a PC monopoly

72% of developers fear that Steam is monopolizing the PC market.

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Steam has always been synonymous with PC gaming, but a new report suggests that its position may be bordering on monopoly. According to a survey conducted by Atomik Research, 72% of developers and industry executives believe that Valve has consolidated almost total control over digital game distribution on PC.

The study, which involved over 300 British and American companies with at least 50 employees, notes that Steam accounts for over 75% of global revenue for many of these companies. While other platforms like Xbox Store, Epic Games Store, GOG, or Itch.io remain active, their commercial presence is minimal compared to Valve’s giant.

Studios seek alternatives to Steam for the coming years

The report recalls that in 2021, a US court ruled that Steam did not exercise a formal monopoly. However, four years later, the numbers point to a different reality. The perception among industry professionals is clear: the PC digital market is almost entirely dominated by Valve, which is especially concerning for independent developers.

However, there are signs of change. According to Atomik Research, 80% of the surveyed companies plan to explore alternative channels over the next five years, including digital code resellers like G2A or Kinguin, and secondary stores capable of offering more competitive margins.

Although Steam remains the safest option due to its large user base and visibility, more and more studios are opting to diversify. In a scenario where services like PC Game Pass or the Xbox Store continue to grow, many developers seek to break their dependence on Valve’s ecosystem and regain control over their sales and community.