Steam experienced a notable surge in its gaming landscape throughout 2025, with 31 new titles making their entrance into the platform’s Top 100 highest-revenue list. This marks a significant increase from the 24 games that achieved similar success in 2024, according to an analysis by GamesDiscoverCo. This trend underscores a promising year for new releases, which have been pivotal in driving revenue as older titles often see heavy discounts that can diminish their earnings.
The mechanics of revenue-based rankings on Steam tend to favor full-priced titles, particularly those priced at $60, as they often generate more revenue per sale compared to older games sold at reduced prices. While older titles remain popular, the combination of lower pricing and discounts typically relegates them to lower ranks on revenue charts. In contrast, new releases have shown a strong performance, contributing significantly to Steam’s financial success.
Steam categorizes its highest-grossing games into four distinct tiers: Platinum (1-12), Gold (13-24), Silver (25-50), and Bronze (51-100). Several new games have made impressive strides into the Platinum category, including notable titles such as Schedule I, Battlefield 6, ARC Raiders, R.E.P.O, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Monster Hunter Wilds. The presence of these new entries highlights the dynamic nature of the current gaming market, where fresh content is both sought after and commercially viable.
In addition to the successes of new titles, the Platinum tier continues to be dominated by longstanding favorites, including franchises such as Call of Duty, Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, and Dota 2. This balance between new releases and enduring classics illustrates the diverse interests of the gaming community, as players continue to gravitate toward both familiar and newly minted experiences.
The Gold category also welcomed a strong lineup of six new games, further solidifying 2025 as a noteworthy year for new releases. Titles such as Borderlands 4, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Elden Ring: Nightreign, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC 26, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Remastered found their place in this tier, suggesting that the market for high-quality new games remains robust.
Currently, the games within each tier are displayed in a random order, with a more structured ranking system expected to be implemented on January 15, 2026. This update will provide a clearer picture of how these titles compare against one another in terms of revenue and popularity, offering players insights into the current state of the gaming market.
As the year draws to a close, Steam is also gearing up for its Winter Sale, which features discounts of up to 90% on a wide variety of titles, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Helldivers 2, and Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. This sale, which runs until January 5, 2026, not only aims to attract new players but also provides existing users an opportunity to expand their libraries at a fraction of the price.
The continued rise of new titles within Steam’s revenue rankings signals a growing appetite for innovation in the gaming industry, as developers seek to capture player engagement with fresh experiences. As the gaming landscape evolves, the interplay between new releases and established franchises will likely shape the future of digital gaming platforms, making it an exciting time for both players and developers alike.
