# A Highland Song

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

- Steam appid: 1240060
- Developer: inkle Ltd
- Released: 2023 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $17.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $942 to $1.4k per month (mid $1.2k)
- Opportunity score: $2.2k/month at x1.90 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 17.5k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $78.7k
- Review sentiment: 87% positive across 682 reviews (548 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 10.5 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 2.3 years
- Studio active elsewhere (7 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 28 months ago
- Store page localized in only 1 language(s)
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 8 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.7 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $2.1k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $1.9k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $1.7k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.2k |

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

13, 7, 4, 35, 13, 16, 9, 8, 5, 10, 4, 12, 9, 5, 6, 7, 15, 13, 4, 10, 4, 8, 26, 11

## Estimated acquisition range

$28.3k to $56.5k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $14.1k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A Scottish Highland adventure where a young woman races against a one-week deadline to reach her uncle's lighthouse, blending exploration, light platforming, and music-driven sequences across parallax landscapes.

A Highland Song has quietly earned $78.7k lifetime on modest sales (17.5k units) with strong positive sentiment (87%) and steady residual revenue ($1,177/mo mid-case). The title punches above its commercial weight through narrative depth and replayability, typical of inkle's pedigree, yet remains invisible to mainstream audiences. It's a candidate for publishing expansion (console ports, regional localization) or bundle inclusion rather than acquisition, given inkle's independent status and active development posture.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (market): Niche discovery problem: 87% positive but only 10.5 reviews/mo suggests a plateau in organic reach; elasticity of 1.74 indicates price cuts drive volume but brand awareness remains low.
- Risk (tech): Rhythmic input accessibility friction noted in player feedback ('jumping with the music i never get it right'); missteps here limit replay-completion intent.
- Risk (other): No developer communication in 27.8 months; studios in quiet mode can signal loss of priority or resource constraints, though inkle remains operational across 5 titles.

What players are asking for:
- Console ports (Switch implied, given the game's cozy, portable design ethos)
- Accessibility refinements to rhythm/input timing mechanics
- Post-launch content or DLC exploring adjacent characters/regions

Suggested first moves:
1. Secure console publishing rights and evaluate Switch/PlayStation ports: the game's art style and input model suit handheld play, and console discovery could unlock 2-3x uplift in monthly revenue.
2. Partner on a regional marketing push (Japan, Nordics, UK) where literary adventure games and Highland/Celtic IP enjoy above-average attach rates.
3. Conduct a light UX audit on rhythm-sequence accessibility and consider a free patch bundled with a micro-sale or storefront feature to re-engage dormant wishlists.

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/1240060
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.