# The Last Stand: Aftermath

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

- Steam appid: 1266840
- Developer: Con Artist Games
- Publisher: Armor Games Studios
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Action · List price: $24.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $4.9k to $7.3k per month (mid $6.1k)
- Opportunity score: $9.1k/month at x1.50 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 193.3k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $1.2M
- Review sentiment: 81% positive across 6737 reviews (6040 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 39.0 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer active, last post 0 months ago
- Studio active elsewhere (3 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 3.5 years ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 8 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.4 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $11.0k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $9.6k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $8.7k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $6.1k |

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

74, 48, 76, 38, 55, 38, 77, 45, 29, 44, 67, 46, 57, 30, 30, 54, 26, 42, 30, 54, 31, 40, 30, 49

## Estimated acquisition range

$145.8k to $291.6k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $72.9k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Top-down roguelite zombie survival with progression mechanics and modular character building, part of the long-running Last Stand franchise.

Aftermath has generated $1.2M lifetime on modest visibility and holds 80% positive reviews, yet currently earns only $6.1K/mo despite a $25 price point and active developer post history. The franchise fanbase is vocal about preferring story-rich, RPG-forward design over pure roguelite loops; a publishing partner or acquirer with narrative/campaign resources could unlock revival interest, especially if positioned as a bridge back toward Union City's depth. Con Artist Games remains operational and engaged, reducing execution risk.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (market): Crowded roguelite/zombie genre; player feedback suggests late-game balance collapse and campaign fatigue limit replay appeal versus peers.
- Risk (tech): Recurring reports of invisible enemies, grab/vault clunkiness, and generation bugs suggest engine or design debt that may deter modern players without targeted fixes.
- Risk (other): Series veteran players explicitly request narrative density and RPG systems from Union City; Aftermath's roguelite-first design may have alienated the core franchise audience.

What players are asking for:
- More story, character progression, and RPG systems akin to Union City
- Fix late-game (biome 4) balance, stunlock deaths, and end-run pacing
- Resolve invisible enemy spawns and environmental collision bugs
- Extend single-run playtime or add campaign structure for roguelite engagement

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit franchise IP holdings and Union City's design docs to scope a narrative/campaign expansion or DLC that reintroduces RPG progression without cannibalizing roguelite loops.
2. Partner with Con Artist Games on a targeted content patch (biome 4 rebalance, invisibility fix, grab/vault QOL) timed to a seasonal sale or franchise announcement; monitor sales lift to validate narrative-focused positioning.
3. Evaluate Steam Next Fest or seasonal campaign cost-effectiveness: at $6.1K/mo baseline and 39 reviews/mo, a $5-10K marketing push to existing fanbase could yield 2-3x short-term return if messaging emphasizes 'story and depth return'.

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/1266840
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.