72% of Developers View Steam as a Monopoly in PC Gaming, New Study Reveals

A recent study revealed that 72% of developers view Steam as a monopoly in the PC gaming market. The majority of respondents also indicated that the platform generates approximately 75% of revenue for studios.

Conducted by Rokky, the research titled The State of PC Game Distribution is based on a survey of 306 industry leaders from the UK and US, carried out by Atomik Research between May 18 and May 22, 2025. Among the participants, 75% occupy C-level roles, and 77% are from studios with more than 50 employees.

The findings show that most companies heavily rely on Steam for distributing their games. However, developers have started exploring alternative platforms such as Epic Games Store and Xbox PC Games Store. Nearly half of the respondents (48%) have released games on both of these platforms, while 10% utilized GOG and 8% opted for Itch.io.

Rokky notes that larger companies tend to prefer Epic Games Store and Xbox Store, whereas Itch.io is more focused on independent developers. In addition to digital distribution, 32% of participants reported releasing some games on physical media—such as discs, cartridges, or boxed keys.

Developers also utilize marketplaces like G2A and Kinguin, as well as services like Fanatical and Humble Bundle. They appreciate these platforms for their convenience, control over pricing, marketing support, and access to a global audience.

According to the research, 80% of developers plan to use alternative channels alongside Steam over the next five years, while 75% anticipate at least a 10% increase in revenue thanks to marketplaces and key shops. At the same time, they express concerns about the gray market and the potential loss of control over their products.