# EMERGENCY 20

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

- Steam appid: 735280
- Developer: Sixteen Tons Entertainment
- Released: 2017 · Genre: Simulation · List price: $29.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.6k to $2.4k per month (mid $2.0k)
- Opportunity score: $4.2k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 113.4k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $730.7k
- Review sentiment: 84% positive across 2164 reviews (2061 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 12.5 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 7.1 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 4 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 7.0 years ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 2 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $3.7k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.2k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $2.9k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.0k |

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

21, 19, 17, 15, 27, 14, 15, 10, 18, 13, 14, 16, 17, 12, 7, 6, 23, 8, 10, 13, 12, 15, 13, 12

## Estimated acquisition range

$48.3k to $96.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $24.2k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Real-time strategy simulation where you manage emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) responding to procedurally generated incidents across a city.

EMERGENCY 20 generates $2,014/mo residual revenue on a $29.99 price point with 84% positive sentiment, despite developer radio silence for 7+ years. The mod-friendly design and accessible gameplay suggest untapped potential for a publishing refresh or targeted community reactivation campaign. Best suited for small-to-mid publishers seeking low-risk catalog titles with proven, if quiet, player retention.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (tech): 83+ months since last build; compatibility with current OS versions and Steam client features unconfirmed.
- Risk (market): Emergency services sim genre has minimal mainstream visibility; sustained player acquisition unlikely without active marketing.
- Risk (other): Developer appears inactive (84+ months since last public post); IP rights and support transfer procedures must be clarified before acquisition.

What players are asking for:
- Mod support expansion and better documentation for custom content creation
- Updated UI and quality-of-life improvements for modern Steam
- New scenario maps or procedural variety

Suggested first moves:
1. Secure publishing rights and verify IP ownership and mod licensing terms with Sixteen Tons Entertainment.
2. Audit codebase for OS/API compatibility; plan minimal stabilization patch to restore community trust and unblock reviews.
3. Launch low-cost community event (mod showcase, map competition, AMA) to re-engage dormant players and test appetite for new content before 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/735280
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.