# Sniper: Ghost Warrior

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

- Steam appid: 34830
- Developer: City Interactive
- Publisher: CI Games
- Released: 2010 · Genre: Action · List price: $7.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.5k to $2.2k per month (mid $1.9k)
- Opportunity score: $2.8k/month at x1.50 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 427.6k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $734.3k
- Review sentiment: 59% positive across 8786 reviews (5701 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 43.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer active, last post 12 months ago
- Studio active elsewhere (3 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 13.7 years ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $3.4k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $2.9k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $2.6k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.9k |

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

15, 27, 26, 31, 50, 29, 26, 38, 16, 27, 43, 59, 23, 35, 35, 30, 55, 62, 40, 35, 42, 61, 33, 48

## Estimated acquisition range

$44.5k to $89.0k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $22.2k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Sniper: Ghost Warrior is a 2010 tactical first-person shooter emphasizing stealth and long-range marksmanship.

Still generating $1.85K/mo in residual revenue on a 14-year-old title with modest 58% positive sentiment; the franchise proved durable (three sequels exist), but this first entry shows age in mechanics and presentation. Realistic angle is licensing the IP portfolio to a modern studio for a ground-up remake, rather than acquiring the back-catalog title itself. Buyers should understand that lifetime sales (~428K units, $734K net) reflect a mid-tier commercial performance that has plateaued.

- Most realistic play: licensing
- Risk (market): Sniper-focused gameplay is a saturated subgenre; competition from Hitman, Splinter Cell, and Call of Duty's stealth operators has only intensified since 2010.
- Risk (tech): Core engine and animation systems are visibly dated; players cite control rigidity and weak gunplay feedback as persistent friction points.
- Risk (other): Developer CI Games is still operating with only 3 titles in catalog; institutional knowledge of the franchise may be thin if key leads have moved on.

What players are asking for:
- Improve assault-rifle hit detection and feedback
- Modernize UI and control responsiveness, especially during scripted sequences
- Expand or clarify mission objectives and enemy AI behavior
- Fix graphical glitches (inverted intro screen reported)

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit CI Games' remaining IP rights portfolio and franchise extension opportunities (sequels 2 and 3 sales, merchandise, ancillary media) to model licensing ROI.
2. Commission a player cohort study on sniper-gameplay affinity and overlap with Hitman/Splinter Cell audiences to size addressable market for a remake.
3. Approach CI Games with a co-publishing or IP-licensing proposal for a modern engine remake, positioning it as a lift-and-shift of lore and mission design onto current generation platforms (UE5, proprietary) to reduce creative risk.

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/34830
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.