# 9-nine-:Episode 4

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

- Steam appid: 1424660
- Developer: PALETTE
- Publisher: Sekai Project
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Casual · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.7k to $2.5k per month (mid $2.1k)
- Opportunity score: $4.4k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 46.3k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $230.6k
- Review sentiment: 98% positive across 1473 reviews (1446 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 16.8 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- No developer announcement on record, ever
- Studio quiet across its whole catalog
- Last build shipped 5.5 years ago
- Store page localized in only 3 language(s)

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $3.8k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.3k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $3.0k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.1k |

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

31, 16, 14, 20, 38, 46, 35, 24, 23, 33, 23, 34, 33, 14, 32, 19, 33, 31, 20, 15, 14, 8, 7, 37

## Estimated acquisition range

$50.3k to $100.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $25.2k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

9-nine- Episode 4 is the narrative conclusion of a four-part visual novel series, focused on protagonist Nao's backstory and the plot climax.

This is a quiet tail-end chapter in a dormant series that has nonetheless retained exceptional player sentiment (97.8% positive) and generates $2.1k/mo in residual revenue. The IP is worth understanding if Sekai Project is consolidating its catalog or if PALETTE resurfaces, but standalone acquisition is unlikely to move the needle; the real opportunity lies in rights clarity for potential bundle/subscription licensing or a complete series revival campaign.

- Most realistic play: licensing
- Risk (market): Series is dormant (no developer posts in 65+ months); player base appears satisfied but inactive, suggesting limited organic growth potential without major franchise revival.
- Risk (other): Title is Episode 4 only; value is contingent on owning or controlling the full series narrative and audience relationship across all four chapters.

What players are asking for:
- Continuation or spin-off content featuring established characters
- Porting to console platforms (Switch, PlayStation)
- English localization quality improvements or director's commentary

Suggested first moves:
1. Confirm IP ownership: verify whether Sekai Project holds full rights to the 9-nine- franchise or if rights revert to PALETTE; this determines licensing vs. acquisition strategy.
2. Audit the full series catalog on Steam: calculate combined residual revenue and player migration patterns across Episodes 1-4 to assess bundle/subscription potential.
3. Contact Sekai Project on licensing for GOG, itch.io, or subscription platforms (Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Extra); even dormant titles with 97%+ positive sentiment are attractive for back-catalog deals if margins are clear.

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/1424660
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.