3 ms·

While awesome, this isn't a particularly gutsy move. Mass-market games make the majority of their money in the first three months, generally, I believe. Consi

• InclinedPlane 15y ago
  That might be true for console titles, but steam based games are a little different, due to the possibility of steam sales. By using the advantages of digital distribution (e.g. infinite stock, razor thin overhead) steam makes it possible to have sales of older games at huge discounts. This then generates a huge volume of sales which can generate substantial revenue (to the degree where steam-sales have actually rescued some game companies from the brink of extinction). Valve doesn't have to release sales figures, but it's a good bet that the revenue curve over time for TF2 has a much fatter and longer tail than for your typical AAA console title. That being said. The advantage of making TF2 free-to-play are huge. Firstly, the hat-conomy generates plenty of revenue on its own. More importantly, TF2 could quite easily become a gateway drug for casual PC gamers to use steam. More users playing TF2 means more users looking at, say, Terraria for 10 bucks, or Left 4 Dead 2 for 20, or some other relatively recent game at a ridiculous price during a sale.
  • starwed 15y ago
    So technically, I bought TF2 last month. But what I really bought was the orange box, which happens to include it. I really doubt many people are buying TF2 by itself anymore. Anyone who hasn't played it will almost definitely pick it up as part of a bundle.