In the ever-competitive gaming market, the success stories of “Payday 3” and “Cities: Skylines 2” stand out, especially considering their turbulent launches. Despite facing significant initial hurdles, both games have managed to secure spots on Steam’s 2023 best sellers list, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.
“Payday 3,” developed by Starbreeze, made its debut a few months ago but was quickly marred by server issues that rendered this eagerly awaited heist game virtually unplayable. The absence of an offline mode only compounded the problem.
Similarly, “Cities: Skylines 2,” the sequel to the acclaimed city-building game, encountered technical difficulties that impacted its launch. Yet, in an impressive display of consumer loyalty and interest, both titles have achieved significant sales figures.
Despite the troubled start and a notable drop in player count for “Payday 3,” with SteamDB reporting a steep decline to around 1,000 online players compared to “Payday 2’s” 28,000, it still made it to Steam’s “Best of 2023” in the bronze category. This achievement suggests that a large portion of the game’s revenue may have come from pre-orders.
On the other hand, “Cities: Skylines 2” secured a place in the silver tier. The game’s ability to be played offline may have played a role in maintaining its sales momentum despite the technical issues and the controversial statement from Colossal Order’s CEO, which was later retracted.
Steam’s Best Sellers and the Free-to-Play Domination
The 2023 Steam best sellers list reveals interesting trends in the gaming industry. While “Baldur’s Gate 3” made it to the prestigious platinum category, the top spot was surprisingly taken by the free-to-play multiplayer FPS “PUBG Battlegrounds,” followed by “Counter-Strike 2.”
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Notably, among the top six games, only “Sons of the Forest” is not free-to-play. This indicates that the model of generating gross revenue through in-game transactions and DLCs, rather than upfront purchase prices, is increasingly prominent in the industry.
Both “Payday 3” and “Cities: Skylines 2” are currently available at discounted prices in Steam’s Winter Sale, with “Payday 3” offered at a 25% discount and “Cities: Skylines 2” at 10% off. This move could further boost their sales as they continue to recover from their launch setbacks.
The success of these games, despite initial challenges, underscores the importance of post-launch support and the enduring appeal of well-established franchises. It also highlights the evolving dynamics of the gaming market, where even free-to-play titles can lead in revenue generation.
