# S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

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

- Steam appid: 20510
- Developer: GSC Game World
- Publisher: GSC World Publishing
- Released: 2008 · Genre: Action · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $4.3k to $6.5k per month (mid $5.4k)
- Opportunity score: $10.0k/month at x1.85 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 1.3M · Est. lifetime net revenue: $5.7M
- Review sentiment: 85% positive across 22539 reviews (17636 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 50.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 15 months
- Studio active elsewhere (16 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 3.2 years ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $9.8k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $8.5k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $7.7k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $5.4k |

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

270, 198, 230, 468, 486, 261, 178, 142, 132, 190, 69, 49, 70, 38, 60, 112, 51, 54, 40, 46, 47, 61, 51, 56

## Estimated acquisition range

$129.3k to $258.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $64.7k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is a 2008 first-person shooter prequel set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, focusing on faction warfare and atmospheric survival.

Clear Sky remains a steady earner at $5.4k/mo residual revenue with 85% positive sentiment and a stable, engaged community despite 16 years of age and zero discounts in the past year. The title's value lies not in growth but in reliable catalog hold for GSC World Publishing; revival potential exists only if the franchise gains renewed momentum post-Stalker 2 launch, or if a third party seeks to remaster the original trilogy under license. For most acquirers, this is a catalog hold, not a turnaround play.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Risk (tech): 16-year-old engine and codebase; players explicitly cite mandatory community patch to avoid progression locks, signaling ongoing stability issues.
- Risk (market): Zero discount activity in 12 months suggests either publisher confidence in $19.99 price point or lack of active marketing; new Stalker 2 release may cannibalize legacy sales.
- Risk (other): Developer last posted 15 months ago; studio operates 16 titles but Clear Sky receives minimal active support relative to its installed base.

What players are asking for:
- Community patch becomes canonical/integrated (cited by multiple players as mandatory install)
- Stability and progression fixes (quest locks, ending bugs explicitly mentioned)
- Comparison data: players want clarity on how Clear Sky fits within the wider trilogy narrative

Suggested first moves:
1. If acquiring as catalog hold: audit the community patch maintenance chain; consider licensing or integrating the most-used fixes into a stable 'definitive edition' SKU to reduce support friction and unlock potential price lift.
2. Monitor Stalker 2 post-launch sales velocity (3–6 months); if it drives significant franchise interest, model a remaster or trilogy bundle as a franchise amplifier rather than standalone revival.
3. If licensing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. IP for a third-party remaster: verify GSC World's willingness to grant engine and source-code access; legacy trilogy remasters (e.g., Unreal Engine 5) could address tech risk and justify $29.99+ pricing.

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/20510
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.