# Gestalt: Steam & Cinder

> ResidualPlay case file: an overlooked Steam game still earning residual revenue. Estimates carry a ±30-50% error range per title.

- Steam appid: 1231990
- Developer: Metamorphosis Games
- Publisher: Fireshine Games
- Released: 2024 · Genre: Action · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $3.5k to $5.3k per month (mid $4.4k)
- Opportunity score: $7.2k/month at x1.65 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 58.6k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $342.2k
- Review sentiment: 80% positive across 2243 reviews (1830 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 30.0 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 17 months
- Studio quiet across its whole catalog
- Last build shipped 23 months ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 7 sales in the last 12 months

## Where a gross dollar goes (monthly, at current velocity)

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $8.0k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $6.9k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $6.3k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $4.4k |

## Monthly review counts, oldest to newest (24 months)

148, 67, 91, 140, 130, 85, 44, 40, 42, 65, 52, 57, 27, 33, 32, 26, 37, 29, 21, 22, 55, 19, 13, 50

## Estimated acquisition range

$105.2k to $210.4k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $52.6k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder is a 2D steampunk Metroidvania with challenging combat, pixel-art aesthetics, and a 22–53 hour campaign.

A well-received indie action title (80% positive, 2,243 reviews) that has earned $342k lifetime on modest sales velocity and now generates $4.4k/mo residual revenue with room to grow. The developer is quiet (16.8 months since last public update) and listed as fading, suggesting the studio may lack bandwidth for live support or sequels. This is acquisition-ready for a publisher seeking catalog depth in the Metroidvania segment, or a partnership candidate for a modest revival push (discount cadence, social reactivation, console port) that could unlock $7.2k/mo opportunity.

- Most realistic play: acquisition
- Risk (market): Metroidvania oversupply on Steam; player praise is solid but not exceptional, and no sequel is confirmed despite fan requests.
- Risk (other): Developer radio silence (16.8 months) and fading studio status suggest limited internal runway or pivot; due diligence on founder/team health required.
- Risk (tech): Player feedback hints at minor balance and UX friction (story/UI occasionally interrupts flow); post-launch polish window may have closed.

What players are asking for:
- Sequel confirmation or expanded DLC roadmap
- Quality-of-life fixes: better map/navigation, story/dialog toggle
- Console ports (Switch, PlayStation)

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit IP ownership and dev/publisher contract: confirm all rights (sequels, ports, merchandising) are clear before acquisition offer.
2. Model console (Switch, PS5) and Epic/GOG ports: elasticity of 0.86 suggests price-sensitive audience; broad platform availability and regional pricing may unlock 2–3x residual uplift.
3. Plan a 3–6 month content & comms roadmap: developer blog post, behind-the-scenes art/music content, and a seasonal discount (currently 7 promos/12mo; cadence is modest) to signal stewardship and rebuild community trust.

Generated 2026-08-20 from public signals and player reviews. Directional, not diligence.

## Methodology

Units are estimated from Steam-purchase reviews times a release-cohort multiplier (Boxleiter method, 20-75x by year). Revenue uses an effective price (lifetime discounts and regional pricing) and nets out VAT (~13%), refunds (~9.5%) and Steam's 30% cut: roughly 55% of gross reaches the developer.

Source: https://residualplay.com/game/1231990
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.