# Overgrowth

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

- Steam appid: 25000
- Developer: Wolfire Games
- Released: 2017 · Genre: Action · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $3.4k to $5.1k per month (mid $4.2k)
- Opportunity score: $8.9k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 339.8k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $1.5M
- Review sentiment: 81% positive across 9069 reviews (6179 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 39.5 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 3.6 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 4 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 7.7 years ago
- Store page localized in only 1 language(s)

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $7.7k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $6.7k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $6.1k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $4.2k |

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

42, 39, 31, 41, 115, 61, 34, 59, 30, 32, 80, 49, 47, 46, 53, 34, 54, 52, 28, 60, 26, 28, 48, 47

## Estimated acquisition range

$101.8k to $203.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $50.9k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A third-person action game built around fluid parkour and physics-driven melee combat with moddable sandbox play, developed by Wolfire Games and released in 2017.

Overgrowth sits at an interesting intersection: 340k lifetime units, 81% positive reviews, and a documented cult following around its movement mechanics and ragdoll physics. Current residual revenue of $4.2k/mo and zero sales activity in 12 months suggest the title has matured into a quiet, steady catalog earner rather than an active driver. The IP is self-owned by Wolfire, but the studio's apparent dormancy (last dev post 43 months ago) means acquisition or licensing could unlock revival campaigns, console ports, or indie publishing partnerships that the original creators may not currently pursue.

- Most realistic play: acquisition
- Risk (tech): 92-month-old codebase; engine and middleware (likely custom or dated middleware) may require substantial work to port to modern console SDKs or update for current API standards.
- Risk (market): Niche positioning (parkour + ragdoll physics) limits mainstream appeal; story campaign resonates but post-campaign retention is cited as weak by players.
- Risk (other): Wolfire's studio status is flagged as inactive; rights, source code, and IP provenance will require legal and technical due diligence.

What players are asking for:
- Sequel or narrative continuation (multiple reviews mention wishing for a sequel)
- Better post-story endgame and replayability beyond sandbox and mods
- Console versions and better controller support documentation
- Performance optimization (lag mentioned by high-engagement players)

Suggested first moves:
1. Verify IP ownership, source code escrow status, and engine licensing with Wolfire's founders or legal contacts; establish whether developer would consider asset sale or licensing deal.
2. Conduct technical audit on codebase, art, and animation pipelines to estimate porting cost to Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox; validate whether moddable infrastructure is production-ready or custom-built.
3. Map monetization upside: test console port localization and DLC potential (story episodes, character skins, weapon packs); validate whether $4.2k/mo baseline can sustain a live-service or seasonal content cadence.

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/25000
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.