# Warpips

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

- Steam appid: 1291010
- Developer: Skirmish Mode Games
- Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
- Released: 2022 · Genre: Action · List price: $16.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $2.0k to $3.0k per month (mid $2.5k)
- Opportunity score: $5.3k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 138.0k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $584.4k
- Review sentiment: 87% positive across 5171 reviews (4311 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 23.8 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 3.8 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 1 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 4.4 years ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 11 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.3 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $4.6k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $4.0k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $3.6k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.5k |

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

49, 29, 19, 30, 37, 37, 37, 30, 35, 31, 26, 33, 99, 43, 43, 20, 21, 21, 20, 34, 17, 14, 27, 31

## Estimated acquisition range

$60.6k to $121.2k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $30.3k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Warpips is a turn-based tactical strategy game where you assemble a limited roster of units and manage permanent resource depletion across campaign maps.

Warpips generated $584k lifetime revenue on modest install base (138k units) and maintains healthy 87% positive sentiment with $2.5k/mo residual, but developer Skirmish Mode Games is inactive (45+ months since last post). The core loop, tactical unit deployment with irreversible losses, resonates deeply with a small, engaged community. Revival or acquisition by an active publisher could unlock value through seasonal content, difficulty balancing, and roguelite progression systems players explicitly request, targeting strategy and roguelike audiences willing to pay for depth.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (other): Developer studio appears dormant (45+ months without public communication); IP ownership and code access must be clarified before acquisition or revival.
- Risk (market): Niche appeal (non-mainstream grade) limits ceiling; roguelite progression feedback suggests core loop design may frustrate retention-sensitive audiences.
- Risk (tech): Single title studio with 52-month build suggests limited production velocity; full maintenance and content expansion capability unknown.

What players are asking for:
- Permanent roguelite upgrade/progression system across runs (explicit feedback in negative review)
- Clearer feedback on optimal unit loadouts and resource management guidance for early-game difficulty
- Continued balance patches and new campaign content

Suggested first moves:
1. Secure IP and code access; verify full source, build environment, and live service infrastructure (in-game metrics, balance levers, monetization backend).
2. Commission 20-30h deep-play audit: map friction points in early-game loadout tutorialization, late-game difficulty curves, and run pacing against player feedback themes.
3. Propose 6-month roadmap centered on optional persistent unlocks (cosmetics, unit variants, or difficulty modifiers) tied to seasonal pass, keeping core reset loop intact while addressing retention asks.

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/1291010
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.