# STAR WARS™: Dark Forces Remaster

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

- Steam appid: 2292260
- Developer: Nightdive Studios
- Released: 2024 · Genre: Action · List price: $29.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $3.4k to $5.0k per month (mid $4.2k)
- Opportunity score: $8.0k/month at x1.90 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 39.0k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $342.0k
- Review sentiment: 89% positive across 1621 reviews (1219 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 19.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 2.3 years
- Studio active elsewhere (13 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 28 months ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 8 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $7.6k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $6.6k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $6.0k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $4.2k |

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

26, 21, 9, 41, 52, 21, 18, 23, 14, 34, 18, 22, 12, 11, 16, 16, 13, 15, 22, 16, 18, 26, 10, 23

## Missed seasonal-sale revenue (modeled)

Skipped 4 Steam seasonal sale window(s) in the last 24 months. Running a -50% discount in those windows is modeled at +$10.5k net in total, assuming a unit uplift of x3.0 (industry-typical for old catalog titles). Same ±30-50% error range applies.

## Estimated acquisition range

$100.8k to $201.6k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $50.4k/year). Same error range applies.

## Markets by review language

- schinese: 1% (game NOT localized in this language)
- english: 85%
- brazilian: 1% (game NOT localized in this language)
- french: 1%
- german: 5%
- koreana: 0% (game NOT localized in this language)
- russian: 4% (game NOT localized in this language)
- spanish: 2% (game NOT localized in this language)
- japanese: 0% (game NOT localized in this language)

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Nightdive's 2024 remaster of the 1995 LucasArts classic first-person shooter Dark Forces, now playable on modern hardware.

Dark Forces Remaster is a quiet performer: 89% positive reviews, $4.2k/mo residual revenue, and strong engagement from its 39k lifetime players. The title appeals almost exclusively to 90s FPS nostalgia, new players cite age and level design friction. Acquisition value depends on your portfolio's need for established IP with proven (if niche) monetization; revival potential is low unless bundled with a wider Star Wars publishing strategy or leveraged for licensing into adjacent media.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Licensed IP: the game is built on third-party intellectual property
- Risk (licensed_ip): Lucasfilm/Disney retains Star Wars IP rights; Nightdive holds remaster rights only; any sequel, spin-off or major derivative work requires Disney approval and likely renegotiation.
- Risk (market): Player base is heavily skewed toward legacy nostalgia; minimal crossover potential to modern action-FPS audiences despite strong technical execution.
- Risk (tech): 27 months since last developer update and no post-launch content pipeline visible; bug-fix and performance-maintenance burden falls on acquirer.

What players are asking for:
- New campaign or level packs set in the Star Wars universe
- Multiplayer or co-op modes (absent in original, but requested for replayability)
- Controller refinement for console versions or cross-platform play
- Russian and other non-English localization improvements (8% gap in coverage; Russian is top unserved language)

Suggested first moves:
1. Confirm Disney's stance on derivative works (campaign DLC, spinoffs, or adaptations) under current Nightdive license; budget legal review of IP clauses before acquisition or publishing commitment.
2. Audit player retention and churn cohorts by acquisition date and region; identify whether Russian localization gap (8%) is addressable via inexpensive translation or reflects deeper market friction.
3. Model uplift scenario: bundle Dark Forces with a Nightdive publishing deal or portfolio acquisition; assess whether marketing synergy with other licensed titles (Blade Runner, System Shock) or new Star Wars game releases can drive repeat discounting and seasonal revenue spikes.

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/2292260
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.