# rFactor 2

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

- Steam appid: 365960
- Developer: Studio 397
- Released: 2015 · Genre: Racing · List price: $29.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $4.1k to $6.2k per month (mid $5.2k)
- Opportunity score: $8.5k/month at x1.65 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 443.0k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $2.9M
- Review sentiment: 79% positive across 9198 reviews (6815 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 32.0 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 18 months
- Studio active elsewhere (2 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 24 months ago
- Store page localized in only 1 language(s)
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 6 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.4 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $9.4k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $8.1k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $7.4k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $5.2k |

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

34, 27, 22, 37, 51, 50, 32, 59, 61, 38, 58, 49, 60, 28, 36, 43, 45, 43, 23, 41, 28, 17, 53, 30

## Estimated acquisition range

$123.8k to $247.5k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $61.9k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

rFactor 2 is a moddable PC racing simulation with high-fidelity physics and VR support, built on an aging but still-active multiplayer racing community.

rFactor 2 has logged $2.86M lifetime revenue across 443K units and still generates $5.2K/mo residual income, despite 17+ months of developer silence and a fading studio status. The title's physics, FFB, modding ecosystem, and VR optimization attract a loyal sim-racing niche that values it over newer competitors. Acquisition or IP licensing could unlock value via seasonal content drops, esports activation, or platform partnerships; however, the one-person studio and minimal recent development pose execution risk.

- Most realistic play: licensing
- Risk (tech): Engine and codebase are 9+ years old; multiplayer infrastructure may require heavy investment to scale or migrate.
- Risk (multiplayer): Online community appears fragmented by skill tier; a player reported purchasing $300 content only to find beginner servers empty.
- Risk (other): Studio 397 has published only one title and has not posted publicly in 17+ months; ownership structure and asset transferability unclear.

What players are asking for:
- Modernized AI opponents and matchmaking beyond beginner/advanced tiers
- Expanded content packages with real-world car and track licensing
- Gamepad and input device consistency fixes
- Active seasonal events and competitive ladder resets

Suggested first moves:
1. Conduct legal and technical diligence on Studio 397 ownership, code escrow, and multiplayer server licensing; clarify if assets can be acquired independently or only via a studio buyout.
2. Engage top 500 community members (Discord, forum) to quantify appetite for seasonal updates, cosmetics, or esports tier; assess if residual $5.2K/mo could grow to $15-25K/mo with light marketing and one quarterly patch per year.
3. Model a 12-month 'custodian' play: license the IP, hire 2-3 contractors to patch input bugs, refresh in-game chat and matchmaking UX, and run one grassroots esports qualifier; measure CAC and LTV uplift before committing to full-scale revival.

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/365960
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.