# SteamWorld Build

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

- Steam appid: 2134770
- Developer: The Station
- Publisher: Thunderful Publishing
- Released: 2023 · Genre: Simulation · List price: $24.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $2.9k to $4.4k per month (mid $3.6k)
- Opportunity score: $6.0k/month at x1.65 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 60.0k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $374.1k
- Review sentiment: 84% positive across 2248 reviews (1876 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 23.3 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 14 months
- Studio active elsewhere (2 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 23 months ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 12 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.8 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $6.6k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $5.7k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $5.2k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $3.6k |

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

39, 19, 23, 117, 65, 40, 52, 32, 33, 20, 43, 85, 32, 31, 20, 28, 34, 29, 29, 31, 23, 16, 21, 20

## Estimated acquisition range

$87.2k to $174.5k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $43.6k/year). Same error range applies.

## Markets by review language

- english: 64%
- brazilian: 3%
- french: 4%
- koreana: 2%
- russian: 8%
- spanish: 3%
- japanese: 1%
- schinese: 4%
- german: 10%

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

SteamWorld Build is a casual city-builder with mining mechanics that blends Anno and Dungeon Keeper in a steampunk setting.

SteamWorld Build carries strong community sentiment (84% positive) and has generated $374k lifetime with modest residual revenue of $3.6k/mo, but faces a critical revival moment. The franchise is known for experimental genre-hopping, and this title's lightweight design appeals to a specific casual/handheld audience (strong Deck performance noted). The core risk is that developer The Station appears to be a one-title studio entering fade mode (no dev updates in 14 months), making acquisition or publishing partnership the only path to sustained monetization or expansion.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (tech): Recent reports of broken mouse menu interaction and Steam Deck compatibility regression suggest unattended technical debt.
- Risk (market): Low challenge, limited replayability, and incomplete mining sandbox mechanics create a ceiling on engagement beyond the 10-hour campaign.
- Risk (other): Developer studio status is 'fading' with one title and no communication in 14 months, implying limited capacity for ongoing support or DLC.

What players are asking for:
- Fix mouse/menu interaction bugs and restore Steam Deck stability
- Expand mining and underground building depth beyond tower-defense gating
- Increase strategic challenge and cost-consequence for building placement

Suggested first moves:
1. Secure IP rights and conduct technical audit: confirm ownership of SteamWorld Build code and franchise IP, prioritize bug fixes (mouse input, Deck regression) and performance baseline.
2. Evaluate DLC and live-ops roadmap: mining expansion, difficulty tiers, and strategic cost-consequence rebalance could address top player feedback without requiring engine overhaul.
3. Assess publishing/marketing repositioning: title is quiet on mainstream channels (not tracked by ITAD mainstream metric) but resonates strongly on handheld and casual audiences; consider seasonal sales events and curated bundle placement.

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/2134770
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.