# City of Gangsters

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

- Steam appid: 1386780
- Developer: SomaSim
- Publisher: Kasedo Games
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Simulation · List price: $29.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $947 to $1.4k per month (mid $1.2k)
- Opportunity score: $2.5k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 42.5k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $317.8k
- Review sentiment: 73% positive across 1558 reviews (1328 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 6.3 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 4.1 years
- Studio active elsewhere (3 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 4.1 years ago
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 8 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.5 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)

9, 3, 6, 12, 14, 15, 4, 11, 6, 10, 3, 10, 5, 4, 25, 15, 16, 12, 4, 9, 6, 6, 7, 6

## Estimated acquisition range

$28.4k to $56.8k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $14.2k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A Prohibition-era resource management sim where players build criminal empires through bootlegging, territory control, and operational strategy.

City of Gangsters has quietly accrued $318k lifetime revenue on a $30 price point with 73% positive reviews, generating $1,184/mo residual income despite zero developer activity in 49 months. The core mechanic appeals to a niche but loyal audience (simulation enthusiasts, strategy players), though UI/UX friction and onboarding complexity limit mainstream reach. A publishing partner or catalog buyer could extract 15-20% uplift through interface polish, tutorial refinement, and seasonal sales cadence without major feature work.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (tech): Clunky UI and unclear progression systems are cited in multiple reviews as friction points that harm retention and word-of-mouth.
- Risk (market): Niche appeal: simulation and strategy players only; limited cross-genre visibility or streamer presence.
- Risk (other): Developer (SomaSim) shows no post-launch engagement (49 months silent); unclear if source code, assets, and live service tooling are in good standing.

What players are asking for:
- Clearer onboarding and tutorial that doesn't overwhelm new players
- UI/UX overhaul for territory management and micromanagement burden
- Rebalancing of early-game progression to reduce restart risk
- Quality-of-life features for operational scaling (batch commands, automation hints)

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit codebase health, live-service backend (if any), and IP clearance; confirm SomaSim's willingness to license or transfer IP to a new publisher.
2. Commission a UI/UX audit and low-cost tutorial refresh (budget $15-25k); A/B test new onboarding on a small discount campaign to measure conversion uplift.
3. Execute a seasonal sales calendar (Q4 holiday, Q2 summer) with modest 20-30% discounts to re-engage dormant wishlists; measure 12-month revenue lift before committing to content updates.

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/1386780
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.