How to grow a Steam game
Everything a pre-launch studio needs, from validating a genre to converting wishlists on Day 1. Built on 35B+ data points across 700+ games.
No fixed timeline
Validate & Fund
Prove the game and studio can survive to launch — this doesn't run on a launch countdown, and shouldn't block starting the store page below.
No fixed timeline
The Video Game Fundraising Blueprint
A practical video game fundraising playbook: design the raise, prove the case, build an investor network, create honest momentum, and close.
Read guideNo fixed timeline
How to Start a Game Studio in 2026
Starting a game studio in 2026 means proving player demand first. Half of Steam games earn under $1,000 lifetime; here's what lasting studios do differently.
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12-9 months before launch
Foundations
Validate the game idea and build a demand-capture mechanism.
12-9 months before launch
How to Optimize Your Steam Store Page
The complete guide to Steam capsule art, tags, trailers, screenshots, descriptions, and community hub. Based on data from 700+ games.
Read guide12-9 months before launch
Marketing Attribution for Steam Games: 2026 Guide
Steam's UTM Analytics credits wishlists within 72 hours of a tagged click. That is a floor, not a total. Here is what it misses and how to recover the gap.
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9-2 months before launch
Growth
Find what works in your channels and scale it to acquire wishlists.
9-2 months before launch
Steam Game Marketing Guide: 2026
The complete guide to marketing your game, increasing wish lists, and converting them to players at launch. Based on data from 700+ games.
Read guide9-2 months before launch
Game Analytics for Indie Developers: 2026 Guide
Only 1.5% of Steam games cross $1M in revenue. The three signals that actually predict it: wishlist velocity, page conversion rate, and traffic source quality.
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8 weeks before launch through Day 1
Launch
Maximize algorithmic discovery for launch.
8 weeks before launch through Day 1
How to Win at Steam Next Fest
What separates Steam Next Fest winners from the ~500-wishlist median: pre-festival audience, a festival trailer, press preview, and Day 1-3 demo velocity. Based on 16,878 games.
Read guide8 weeks before launch through Day 1
How to Publish a Game on Steam
The full Steam publishing process: Steamworks account and tax setup, the $100 Steam Direct fee and wait clocks, store-page and build review, and launch day.
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After launch
Keep What You Earn
Know what Steam actually takes from revenue before you count launch-week sales.
