Valve is making a fortune, as confirmed by the latest data from Alinea Analytics, which estimates Steam has generated an impressive $11.1 billion in revenue in the first half of the year. These numbers are not only record-setting for Valve but also highlight the significant influence Steam has within the gaming community. As a privately-owned company, Valve's revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. However, analysis from Alinea Analytics estimates that the gross revenue for the first six months of the year is $11.1 billion, nearly matching the entire year of 2021 ($11.4 billion), when the COVID pandemic significantly boosted the gaming community as people stayed home for extended periods.

Interestingly, the majority of Steam's revenue comes from older games. The report notes that only 21% of the revenue stream has come from 2026 game releases, while the rest is supported by a catalog of older titles. Perhaps gamers have been saving up to purchase older games or simply waiting for new releases to resolve the initial bugs and issues that often accompany major game launches. The top-selling games in the first half of 2026 include Forza Horizon 6, generating $197.7 million since launch, Resident Evil Requiem with $194.5 million, and Crimson Desert with $190.1 million from game sales. A complete chart with more games is included below.Alinea Analytics identifies several key factors driving Valve's increasing revenue. First, the number of active Steam users in Asia is rising rapidly, with China leading the way. Secondly, publishers have been releasing higher-priced games and engaging in viral collaborations with other studios to boost sales. Interestingly, perhaps the most significant factor is the retreat of game publishers who attempted to launch their own platforms, only to return to Steam when gamers were reluctant to adopt their platforms. Even Epic Games is struggling to attract more players without offering free games, indicating that Steam's revenue machine is just getting started.