# Farming Simulator 15

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

- Steam appid: 313160
- Developer: GIANTS Software
- Released: 2014 · Genre: Simulation · List price: $12.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $2.2k to $3.4k per month (mid $2.8k)
- Opportunity score: $5.9k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 996.7k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $2.8M
- Review sentiment: 92% positive across 15853 reviews (13289 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 40.0 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 10.0 years
- Studio active elsewhere (7 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 10.6 years ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 3 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $5.1k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $4.4k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $4.0k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.8k |

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

31, 48, 31, 56, 68, 44, 33, 43, 32, 58, 23, 37, 41, 38, 44, 29, 44, 36, 41, 35, 52, 34, 33, 45

## Estimated acquisition range

$67.0k to $134.0k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $33.5k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Farming Simulator 15 is a 2014 agricultural sandbox from GIANTS Software that generated nearly $2.8M lifetime on ~997k units sold.

FS15 occupies a unique niche: it's a decade-old sim with a 92.5% positive rating, still earning $2.2k-3.4k/mo in residual revenue, and sits in a franchise that has grown substantially since launch. The community is small but durable (40 reviews/mo, 294-849h playtimes reported). However, acquisition of the IP itself is unlikely; the real angle is licensing or partnership with GIANTS to revive back-catalog awareness, or studying its design for a modernized entry-level farming sim targeting lapsed players and strategy-curious demographics outside the hardcore sim market.

- Most realistic play: licensing
- Risk (tech): Built on 2014 engine; compatibility with current OS, graphics APIs, and controller support may require modernization to attract new players.
- Risk (market): Franchise has advanced significantly (FS22, FS25); price positioning at $12.99 vs. newer titles may confuse buyers about feature set and longevity.
- Risk (other): Developer has been quiet for 119 months post-launch; no active support signals, raising maintenance and moderation risk for a live title.

What players are asking for:
- Mod support or Steam Workshop integration to extend content
- Cross-platform play or mobile companion tools
- Seasonal events or cosmetic progression to reward long-term play

Suggested first moves:
1. Confirm IP ownership and licensing scope with GIANTS Software; determine whether back-catalog monetization is part of their current strategy or available for partnership.
2. Conduct a competitive feature audit: map FS15's unique or historically valued mechanics against FS22 and F25 to isolate what long-tail players prefer (nostalgia tax, gameplay pace, UI simplicity, mod ecosystem).
3. A/B test a limited revival campaign (Discord, YouTube, subreddits): offer free weekend + cosmetics to measure reactivation elasticity and validate whether this cohort would spend on DLC or a remastered edition.

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/313160
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.