Alinea Analytics: Free-to-play did not take over the PC gaming market. That's a myth
In a new report, analysts from Alinea Analytics shared data on free-to-play games in Steam, alongside statistics on indie games.
The analysts called the notion that the overwhelming majority of PC gaming revenue comes from free-to-play titles a common misconception. At least on Steam, this is not the case.
According to the analysts' estimates, in 2025, free-to-play accounted for only 22% of total game revenue on Steam, or about $4 billion. All the rest was generated by paid games. The ratio was about the same last year.
“Although many free-to-play giants distribute through their own launchers, the main takeaway remains evident: the premium segment thrives,” concluded Alinea Analytics.