# IMMORTALITY

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

- Steam appid: 1350200
- Developer: Sam Barlow
- Publisher: Half Mermaid
- Released: 2022 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.5k to $2.2k per month (mid $1.9k)
- Opportunity score: $3.9k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 56.3k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $280.4k
- Review sentiment: 84% positive across 1980 reviews (1758 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 15.0 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 2.6 years
- Studio active elsewhere (3 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 3.3 years ago
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 8 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 | $3.4k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.0k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $2.7k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.9k |

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

18, 12, 25, 28, 22, 33, 12, 20, 16, 13, 10, 15, 12, 12, 22, 17, 24, 19, 15, 17, 10, 15, 13, 20

## Estimated acquisition range

$44.9k to $89.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $22.4k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

An experimental FMV detective game where players piece together fragmented film clips to uncover a mystery about three missing actresses.

Immortality is a quiet, critically respected title generating $1.9k/mo residual revenue on a $19.99 price point with 83.6% positive sentiment and strong replay/social appeal. The game's niche positioning (experimental narrative, high friction gameplay) limits mainstream velocity but creates durable fan loyalty and word-of-mouth potential. Best suited for a publisher seeking to expand discoverability among narrative/art-game audiences or a licensor interested in ancillary media rights.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (market): Gameplay deliberately obscures narrative progression; significant player drop-off occurs when expectations misalign with intentional design friction.
- Risk (other): Developer Sam Barlow has established IP ownership but is a solo/small-team creator; scaling support or sequel viability depends on studio capacity.

What players are asking for:
- Clearer UI/control mapping to reduce random clicking fatigue
- Optional guided hints or logic-puzzle markers for mechanical clarity
- Director's commentary or making-of material to deepen post-game engagement
- Accessibility options (subtitle styling, subtitle search, controller remapping)

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit seasonal marketing windows (horror/mystery bundles, art-game collections, film-studies themed sales) to test price-elasticity (1.26) against higher discount tiers; last deep sale was negligible.
2. Commission a 'making of' video essay or podcast featuring Sam Barlow discussing intentional friction, FMV production, and narrative design to feed algorithmic recommendation and creator-led channels.
3. Test a 'curated play guide' or community wiki as a free ancillary asset; reviews suggest players hunger for post-hoc clarity on endings, hidden scenes, and Easter eggs without spoiling discovery.

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/1350200
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.