# Transistor

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

- Steam appid: 237930
- Developer: Supergiant Games
- Released: 2014 · Genre: Action · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $4.7k to $7.0k per month (mid $5.8k)
- Opportunity score: $9.3k/month at x1.60 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 2.1M · Est. lifetime net revenue: $9.0M
- Review sentiment: 94% positive across 31240 reviews (27967 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 54.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 3.7 years
- Studio active elsewhere (5 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 13 months ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $10.6k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $9.2k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $8.3k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $5.8k |

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

49, 45, 42, 73, 63, 79, 45, 63, 41, 54, 54, 71, 40, 43, 78, 58, 50, 55, 51, 56, 67, 47, 56, 48

## Estimated acquisition range

$139.6k to $279.3k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $69.8k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Supergiant Games' 2014 cyberpunk action-RPG with real-time-pause combat, a mute protagonist, and a haunting electronic narrative soundtrack.

Transistor generates $5.8K-$7.0K/mo residually on a decade-old $19.99 title, driven by word-of-mouth from Hades players and sustained community discovery across platforms including Steam Deck. The game's 94% positive score, strong narrative design, and Supergiant's active portfolio create a quiet catalog earner that could see modest uplift through a soundtrack release partnership, console re-release bundle, or licensing of its art direction to adjacent media projects. Not a priority acquisition target, but a healthy evergreen that rewards minimal marketing spend.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (market): Player feedback splits on combat depth versus Bastion's perceived simplicity; mid-tier engagement ceiling may cap upside on revival campaigns.
- Risk (other): Supergiant Games retains all IP and is actively shipping new titles (Hades II); any partnership must fit publisher's priorities, not cannibalize them.

What players are asking for:
- More replayability modes or New Game+ depth
- Standalone soundtrack album or expanded OST release
- Cross-promotion with Hades to bring newer Supergiant fans into catalog

Suggested first moves:
1. License or commission a full-length Transistor soundtrack release on Spotify, Bandcamp, and physical formats; case file shows 54 reviews/mo suggests organic appetite for audio content.
2. Coordinate a joint promotional bundle (Transistor + Bastion + Hades II soundtrack sampler) timed to Hades II's post-launch window to funnel players backward through Supergiant's catalog.
3. Explore a limited console remaster or 'Definitive Edition' targeting Switch and PlayStation ecosystems, where Supergiant's art direction commands premium positioning; case file shows zero discounting history, indicating strong brand hold on 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/237930
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.