# STEINS;GATE: My Darling's Embrace

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

- Steam appid: 970560
- Developer: MAGES. Inc.
- Publisher: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
- Released: 2019 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $29.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $3.6k to $5.4k per month (mid $4.5k)
- Opportunity score: $9.5k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 71.0k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $457.9k
- Review sentiment: 95% positive across 1926 reviews (1776 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 28.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 3.0 years
- Studio active elsewhere (31 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 6.0 years ago
- Store page localized in only 2 language(s)
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 9 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $8.2k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $7.2k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $6.5k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $4.5k |

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

16, 12, 41, 52, 45, 36, 38, 45, 25, 24, 29, 41, 52, 16, 24, 35, 31, 31, 30, 35, 16, 22, 34, 32

## Estimated acquisition range

$108.9k to $217.9k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $54.5k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A visual novel spin-off featuring the Steins;Gate cast in romantic branching narratives, developed by MAGES. Inc. and published by Spike Chunsoft.

My Darling's Embrace has quietly accumulated $458k lifetime revenue on modest sales (71k units) with exceptional retention: 95% positive reviews, steady monthly income of $4.5k/mo, and zero discount depth in 72 months suggest genuine franchise loyalty rather than price-driven volume. The game remains mechanically dormant (no dev post in 36 months) yet profitable, making it an attractive quiet-catalog asset for publishers holding Steins;Gate rights or seeking low-risk visual-novel IP to bundle or localize into underserved regions.

- Most realistic play: acquisition
- Licensed IP: the game is built on third-party intellectual property
- Risk (licensed_ip): Title is a derivative work within the Steins;Gate franchise; full acquisition would require consent or license renewal from the IP rights holder (likely Kadokawa or original creator).
- Risk (tech): No developer activity in 36 months; porting to new platforms or major updates would require studio re-engagement or external contractor.
- Risk (market): Visual-novel genre is niche; 7.8% key-reseller share and 80% max discount suggest limited mainstream appeal and ceiling on organic growth.

What players are asking for:
- Localization into additional languages (title currently supports only 2).
- Porting to console platforms (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation) to reach handheld VN audience.
- Merchandise or anime crossover tie-ins featuring the cast.

Suggested first moves:
1. Verify IP ownership and licensing terms: confirm whether Kadokawa, 5pb., or another entity holds Steins;Gate derivative rights, and whether the current license is perpetual or term-limited.
2. Audit backend: review server/DRM status, regional pricing strategy, and reseller channel agreements to identify low-friction monetization opportunities (e.g., regional bundles, console expansion).
3. Engagement test: conduct lightweight survey of Steam wishlist traffic and regional demand (especially Asia-Pacific markets where visual novels see stronger adoption) to validate localization or porting ROI.

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/970560
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.