Steam’s annual end-of-the-year review has provided insight into PC gaming trends, revealing that only 15% of Steam users dedicated their total playing time to games released in 2024. This statistic raises questions about the reasons behind this trend and what it signifies for the gaming community.
Key Statistics from the Steam Review
- 15% of Steam users’ playtime dedicated to 2024 games
- 47% of playtime on games up to eight years old
- Many reasons for this, including more older games to play
According to PC Gamer, nearly half of the total playing time on Steam was spent on games released in the last seven years, with an additional 37% dedicated to titles that launched more than eight years ago. This data suggests that a significant portion of gamers are opting to engage with older titles rather than focusing solely on recent releases.
Possible Explanations for the Trend
One potential reason for this shift is that players are prioritizing clearing out their backlogs over trying out new games. While the percentage of playtime dedicated to current releases increased from 9% to 15% compared to the previous year, many gamers are likely exploring older titles for various reasons.
Factors such as the accessibility of older games at discounted prices during Steam sales and the compatibility of titles with devices like the Steam Deck could also be influencing players’ preferences. Additionally, established live service games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and PUBG continue to dominate the Most Played charts on Steam, making it challenging for newer titles to gain traction.
With a vast library of over 200,000 titles released over the years, compared to the relatively limited 18,000 games launched in 2024 according to SteamDB, it is not surprising that users are spending more time on older games than on recent additions to the platform.
Despite the dominance of older titles, the fact that 15% of playtime is dedicated to new games is a positive indicator, especially considering the 17% statistic from 2022. This suggests a slight recovery in the interest for new releases, and it is hoped that this trend will continue to grow in the coming years as gamers explore a broader range of titles.