# Idol Manager

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

- Steam appid: 821880
- Developer: Glitch Pitch
- Publisher: PLAYISM
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Indie · List price: $19.99
- 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: $4.1k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 120.7k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $601.8k
- Review sentiment: 88% positive across 4103 reviews (3773 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 15.8 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 4.0 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 1 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 5.0 years ago
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 7 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.5 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $3.6k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.1k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $2.8k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.0k |

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

36, 23, 18, 20, 35, 25, 25, 18, 21, 25, 19, 17, 29, 21, 21, 12, 20, 15, 8, 26, 8, 22, 9, 22

## Estimated acquisition range

$47.4k to $94.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $23.7k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A solo-developer idol-agency management sim where you recruit, train and monetize virtual performers while navigating industry scandals and financial collapse.

Idol Manager has quietly earned $602k lifetime on modest monthly volume (1,973/mo residual) with 87.5% positive reviews and strong mod adoption (K-pop, anime reskins). The developer is inactive post-launch, but the game's low churn and engaged niche community suggest steady catalog value. Interest lies in licensing the IP/mechanics to a publisher with live-service experience, or acquiring the title for revival under professional ops.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (tech): Tutorial UX is a known friction point that likely depresses retention; early-game difficulty spike appears to wall new players despite 87.5% positive sentiment.
- Risk (market): Idol-manager genre is narrow and trend-dependent; success hinges on continued mod community (K-pop, anime) and potential for live-service or seasonal events to sustain engagement.
- Risk (other): Developer (Glitch Pitch) has been silent for 48 months; single-title studio with no public roadmap means acquisition must assume zero ongoing support.

What players are asking for:
- Boyband/male idol option (Korean, global franchises)
- More costume and accessory cosmetics
- Clearer, restartable tutorial with in-game logs
- Content difficulty balancing for early-game progression

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit mod ecosystem and player-created content licensing: AKB48 and K-pop variants suggest demand for official IP partnerships (SME labels, anime studios) that could unlock regional monetization.
2. Prototype a live-service refresh: seasonal events, battle passes, or cosmetic drops tied to real idol trends could sustain $2k/mo to $4k+/mo without core rewrite.
3. Engage Glitch Pitch directly for asset/code access and IP terms: studio silence is not a blocker if title remains profitable; acquisition cost is likely modest given developer status and low platform leverage.

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/821880
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.