In 2024, Steam users displayed a surprising preference for older games, with a mere 15% of their gameplay time dedicated to the year’s new releases. This statistic comes from the latest annual review released by Steam, shedding light on the gaming habits of its global user base.
Global Gaming Trends on Steam
Steam, recognized as the most enduring and popular PC gaming platform, boasts a vast library of games encompassing both new entries and an extensive back catalog. Despite the availability of new titles, players seem to have spent a significant amount of time revisiting older games. According to the 2024 Steam Replay, only 15% of the total playtime was spent on games released in the same year. Interestingly, games released from 2017 to 2023 accounted for 47% of the playtime, while 37% was spent on games that were eight years old or older.
Shift in Gaming Preferences
This trend marks a shift from previous years where older games dominated playtime. In 2023, only 9% of gameplay was devoted to new releases, with the majority of time spent on older titles. Comparatively, 2024 saw a slight increase in the popularity of newer games, although it didn’t reach the heights of 2022, when 17% of playtime was dedicated to that year’s releases.
The Appeal of the Steam Catalog
Steam’s extensive game catalog, combined with regular sales promotions, encourages players to explore and purchase older games at discounted prices. While each year brings a wave of new titles, the sheer volume of games available from the past decade and beyond makes it challenging for newer releases to make a significant impact on playtime percentages.
The gaming preferences of Steam users in 2024 reveal a consistent trend towards older titles, with only a small fraction of gameplay dedicated to new releases. Despite the availability of new games each year, the extensive back catalog of Steam, enhanced by regular discounts and promotions, continues to attract more attention and playtime. This enduring interest in older games highlights the challenges new releases face in capturing the attention of gamers amidst a vast and ever-expanding library. As Steam maintains its position as a leading platform in the PC gaming industry, it will be interesting to see how the balance between old and new titles evolves in the coming years.
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