# Obscure

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

- Steam appid: 254460
- Developer: Hydravision Entertainment
- Publisher: Mighty Rocket Studio
- Released: 2014 · Genre: Action · List price: $6.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.1k to $1.6k per month (mid $1.3k)
- Opportunity score: $2.8k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 226.7k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $340.6k
- Review sentiment: 96% positive across 3232 reviews (3023 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 35.7 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 12.6 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 2 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 12.6 years ago
- Last discounted 4 months ago, 2 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x2.2 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $2.4k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $2.1k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $1.9k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.3k |

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

38, 27, 67, 18, 29, 32, 17, 24, 28, 60, 28, 38, 28, 80, 51, 40, 27, 42, 32, 31, 27, 58, 34, 32

## Estimated acquisition range

$32.2k to $64.3k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $16.1k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Obscure is a 2004 PS2-era survival horror game ported to PC, featuring a group of high schoolers solving mysteries in an abandoned school.

This title sits in a rare category: a cult horror classic with 95.6% positive reviews, steady 1.3k/mo residual revenue, and genuine community affection for its nostalgic value and character-driven design. The 151-month content silence and 2/12 sales suggest dormancy rather than rejection. A targeted remaster or spiritual successor could unlock the franchise potential reviewers explicitly request, especially if positioned for horror enthusiasts on modern platforms.

- Most realistic play: revival
- Risk (tech): Original port suffers from camera and control issues on PC; modern port or remake would require substantial rework to compete with contemporary horror titles.
- Risk (market): Franchise has been inactive for 12+ years; rebuilding brand awareness and player base would demand marketing investment beyond the dormant fanbase.
- Risk (other): Developer (Hydravision) and publisher (Mighty Rocket Studio) appear inactive; IP ownership and chain of title clarity is essential before greenlight.

What players are asking for:
- Remaster or remake with modernized controls and camera
- Sequel or spiritual successor in the same universe
- Port to console (Switch, PlayStation, Xbox) to reach modern horror audiences
- Return to the franchise concept and character-driven storytelling

Suggested first moves:
1. Verify IP ownership chain with Hydravision and Mighty Rocket Studio; confirm all original assets and source code are recoverable or archived.
2. Commission a modest focus group test with horror and retro-gaming subreddits and Discord communities to gauge appetite for a remaster vs. full remake vs. sequel concept.
3. Benchmark production and marketing cost for a budget remaster targeting PC (Steam) and one console (Switch or PlayStation) as proof of concept before full greenlight.

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/254460
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.