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Steam’s standard revenue share starts at 30% of a game’s first $10 million in revenue, then falls to 25% on the portion from $10 million to $50 million and 20% on revenue above $50 million. These are marginal tiers, not retroactive discounts. Steam takes a share of revenue—not accounting profit—and a publisher’s actual payment also depends on adjustments and taxes.
Steam’s revenue-share rates by tier
| Revenue from one application | Steam’s share | Partner’s share before other adjustments |
|---|---|---|
| First $10 million | 30% | 70% |
| Portion above $10 million through $50 million | 25% | 75% |
| Portion above $50 million | 20% | 80% |
Valve announced these tiers in November 2018, with the change effective for revenue starting October 1, 2018. The reduced rate applies only to revenue above each threshold; crossing a threshold does not change the rate on earlier sales. Valve’s announcement describes the adjustment as applying to earnings beyond $10 million and $50 million.
Example: a game earns $60 million
Under the published marginal tiers, the calculation is $3 million on the first $10 million, $10 million on the next $40 million, and $2 million on the final $10 million. Steam’s share totals $15 million, or 25% of the $60 million overall; the partner’s share is $45 million before other adjustments. The 20% rate applies only to the last $10 million, not the full $60 million.
Why “profits” is not the right calculation base
Steam’s percentage is not calculated from a studio’s profit after salaries, marketing, development costs, or other business expenses. Steamworks says payment is based on Net Revenues: Gross Revenues less Applicable Adjustments, multiplied by the applicable revenue-share percentage. Valve identifies taxes, returns, and chargebacks among those adjustments. The payment is also subject to applicable withholding taxes. Steamworks’ Taxes FAQ explains the calculation, while a partner’s signed Steam Distribution Agreement governs its exact contractual terms.
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#1 Best Overall
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Taxes depend on where the sale occurs
Valve says prices include VAT, GST, or JCT in countries where Valve collects those taxes, and that it remits tax collected to the relevant authorities. In certain US and Canadian jurisdictions, sales tax is added on top of the Steam price. Because taxes and other adjustments affect the calculation base, multiplying a game’s displayed price by the headline commission rate will not reliably produce the publisher’s payout.
Withholding is separate from Steam’s share
For US-source income, Valve says withholding may range from 0% to 30%, depending on the partner’s tax-interview information and circumstances. Valve says it must withhold 30% when no US income tax treaty applies. This is a partner-specific tax matter, not a universal Steam commission rate. Valve’s tax guidance provides details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The Steam Direct fee is separate
Valve lists a $100 USD Steam Direct fee, or regional equivalent, for each new app. It is nonrefundable, but can be recouped in a payment after the product reaches at least $1,000 in Adjusted Gross Revenue from Steam Store or in-app purchases. This is an entry fee, not an additional percentage deducted from each sale. See Steam Direct Fee documentation for the current terms.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Rank #4
- 512 GB NVMe SSD: Fast storage for quicker game load times and space for larger game libraries.
- OLED Display: 1200x800 resolution with deep contrasts and vibrant colors for a captivating visual experience.
- Custom AMD APU: Power-efficient Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU for desktop-level gaming performance.
- Expandable Storage: Add more space with a microSD card slot, ensuring you can bring even more games with you.
- Versatile Controls: With built-in thumbsticks, trackpads, and touchscreen controls, you have full control over your gaming experience.
Rank #3
- 【Upgraded】We sells product with professionally upgraded to 2TB SSD. Original Seal is opened for upgrade ONLY.
- 【Stunning 7.4" HDR OLED & 90Hz Motion】 Experience striking contrast and brilliant clarity with the all-new 7.4-inch HDR OLED display. Designed from the ground up for gaming, it features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth motion and pure blacks. This handheld is capable of delivering an immersive visual experience, ensuring your Steam library looks better than ever with vibrant colors and amazing motion rendition.
- 【30-50% More Battery & Efficient Performance】 Play your favorites longer with up to 50% more battery life. By fitting a larger battery and a power-efficient OLED panel, this device provides extended gameplay sessions. It’s the perfect travel companion for long flights or commutes. The updated AMD APU ensures high-speed performance for AAA titles while maintaining incredible energy efficiency.
- 【3X Faster Downloads with Wi-Fi 6E】 Never wait for a game again. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, this Steam Deck OLED offers increased bandwidth and lower latency, delivering downloads up to 3 times faster than previous models. This ensures stable online play and rapid updates, making it the most reliable wireless gaming handheld for modern high-speed home networks.
- 【Responsive Touch & Enhanced Connectivity】 Enjoy a vastly improved touchscreen with higher fidelity and faster haptics. We’ve added a dedicated Bluetooth antenna to improve connections for multiple controllers. Whether using the built-in trackpads or the included external controller, this allows for precision play in everything from FPS to complex strategy games.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
