# Axiom Verge 2

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

- Steam appid: 946030
- Developer: Thomas Happ Games LLC
- Released: 2022 · Genre: Action · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.0k to $1.5k per month (mid $1.3k)
- Opportunity score: $2.7k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 25.3k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $126.3k
- Review sentiment: 78% positive across 969 reviews (792 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 10.3 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 3.6 years
- Studio quiet across its whole catalog
- Last build shipped 3.6 years ago
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 10 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $2.3k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $2.0k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $1.8k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.3k |

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

18, 15, 14, 7, 19, 24, 13, 10, 9, 12, 13, 20, 12, 22, 10, 7, 9, 15, 9, 8, 15, 14, 6, 10

## Estimated acquisition range

$30.9k to $61.8k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $15.5k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A 2D action-adventure metroidvania by solo developer Thomas Happ that shifts from the original's gunplay to melee-focused combat in a connected universe.

Axiom Verge 2 sits in a quiet zone: $1.29k/mo residual revenue, 78% positive sentiment, but 42+ months since last developer update and clear player franchise fatigue. The core tension is sequelization risk: fans of the original (which many cite as top-5 material) reject the mechanical pivot, yet those who embrace the shift find solid 15-25 hour experiences. Revival or publishing support hinges on whether the IP can be repositioned as a spin-off series rather than a direct sequel, or whether developer burnout signals deeper issues.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Risk (market): Franchise alienation: players explicitly compare unfavorably to AV1, citing removal of gunplay and story continuity as core complaint; repositioning as spiritual successor rather than sequel may be necessary.
- Risk (other): Solo-developer sustainability: no dev posts in 43 months and studio status 'fading' suggest resource or motivation constraints; no clear roadmap for AV3 despite player demand.
- Risk (tech): Completion-blocking bugs noted in reviews (pickups not counting toward 99% completion); age of build (43 months) and minimal active support suggest QA drift.

What players are asking for:
- Bug fixes for item-pickup completion tracking
- Clearer in-game navigation and objective markers
- Return to gunplay or hybrid combat system from AV1
- Axiom Verge 3 with multi-character co-op narrative (Trace and female protagonist)

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit completion data and bug reproduction logs; if pickup-tracking bug is widespread, even a small patch could yield goodwill and review lift in a quiet title.
2. Conduct brief developer interview to understand post-launch roadmap intent and resource state; clarity on AV3 or spin-off plans would reshape acquisition vs. licensing calculus.
3. Model soft reposition: test messaging AV2 as 'spiritual successor' rather than sequel in discounted bundle with AV1, to reduce franchise-fatigue friction and prime audience for future entries.

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/946030
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.