Steam News - AndrewL
With the year almost at an end, we're unveiling our Best of 2019 lists. In keeping with tradition, we've built lists with the same themes as last year - Top Sellers, Top New Releases, Top Selling VR Titles, Top Early Access Grads and Most Played Games.



Top Sellers
This list is as self-explanatory as it sounds - a look at games earning the most revenue in 2019. When measuring revenue, we look at game sales, in-game transactions and DLC associated with the game in question.

You'll probably notice some familiar games that were in previous year's lists, along with newcomers that have climbed their way to the top. Where did your favorite game end up this year?

Here's the Top Selling Games of 2019


Top New Releases
This list a compilation of our monthly top release lists that were created over the course of 2019. We've also listed the overall top 12 game releases of 2019. We measure top releases by looking at a game's total revenue generated during the first two weeks after its release.

Every single month includes a surprising amount of representation from different genres, gameplay mechanisms and themes. Which month was your favorite?

Here's the Top New Releases of 2019


Top Selling VR Games
VR continued to grow in 2019, with over 600 new VR-only titles released over the course of the year. Many other games added VR support, along with unique VR-only experiences built for several fan-favorite franchises. This list showcases the best selling VR-only titles of 2019.

To focus on the growth of VR this year, we've also listed the top 20 VR-only games released in 2019. These products are measured by the revenue they generated during the first two weeks after release.

Here's the Top Selling VR Games of 2019


Top Early Access Graduates
Early Access represents a unique model of development that incorporates player feedback throughout the course of the game's development to its launch.

This list recognizes games that have built strong Early Access communities and transitioned into commercially successful releases during 2019. These are measured by revenue earned during 2019 (during Early Access and after full release).

Here's the Top Early Access Grads of 2019


Most Played Games
While the other lists are based on commercial success, our Most Played list highlights games based solely on player count. The Most Played Games list includes any game that had more than 15,000 simultaneous players at some point during 2019. In order to highlight games that have built large player bases, we've excluded brief spikes in player counts due to things like giveaways and free weekends.

Here's the Most Played Games of 2019


Notes:
We don't disclose specific revenue information for these lists, but top sellers are broken into four categories in order to give you an idea of how they placed. The games within each band are sorted randomly:

Platinum: 1st - 12th Top Seller
Gold: 13th - 24th Top Seller
Silver: 25th - 40th Top Seller
Bronze: 41st - 100th Top Seller

Thanks for checking out these lists. After all, they were built by everyone who plays games on Steam!

Also, don't forget to check out the Steam Winter Sale, on now until January 2nd. Many of the titles in the lists above are discounted, and these lists are a great way to browse games that players loved in 2019.

-The Steam Team
Steam News - christen


Hello Steamville citizens, Mayor Carol here! The 2019 Winter Sale and Steamville Event are now in full swing, with amazing savings to be had by all! Thank you for your civic engagement and enthusiasm.

The people of Steamville have spoken, and we hear you loud and clear! The power of our Holiday Cheer is greater than silly rules! The members of Town Council have gathered ‘round the yule log and unanimously voted to reverse course on a few Steamville bylaws. Effective immediately, yule be happy to hear, they are amended as follows:

More Wallet funds are now eligible for Festivity Tokens!
Any funds added to your Steam Wallet or purchases made with non-Steam Wallet payment methods in the week before the sale* will earn you Festivity Tokens. If you’ve purchased items during the sale using Wallet funds added in this timeframe, check your Festivity Token balance: you have already received these Tokens! Read our Event Details for additional ways you can earn Festivity Tokens.

Chat Stickers are… sticking around!
Animated Stickers are far too much fun and will no longer expire. Hooray!! The people of Steamville have voted with their Festivity Points, and we're thrilled to report Happy Yule Log, Angry Yule Log, Bulb Dance, and Snowman Goodbye are your favorites so far... Be sure to check out all the good Stickers in our Holiday Market.



Chat Effects will remain in... effect until consumed!
Consumable Chat Effects are now also free from expiration dates! Now you can hoard those snowballs in your freezer all year long. Or throw them now.


Merry Merry,
Mayor Carol


P.S. Whoever stole the snowman from the grounds of Town Hall, please return it immediately, no questions asked. Thank you. Now where in the name of tinsel did I leave my eggnog?

*Any time after Dec 12 2019 @ 10am PST
Steam News - Arisa


Welcome to Steamville, where the holidays are in full swing! From now ‘til January 2nd*, snap up deals on thousands of your favorite games, while earning festivity tokens and completing holiday quests along the way.

We know shopping this time of year is all about the spirit of giving, but don’t you deserve a little something too? While you’re here, explore our Holiday Market, and use the festivity tokens you earned from your purchases to get a little something for yourself. Which brings us to:

Earn Festivity Tokens when you shop on Steam, and use them in the Holiday Market to grab some shiny new items for yourself! Inside the market you’ll find festive goods, like:
  • The Winter Sale Coupon
  • New Chat Stickers
  • New Chat Room Effects
  • Lots of Egg Nog
OK, just kidding about the Egg Nog—Steamville Mayor Carol likes to keep that to herself. But you will find the rest of that list, and more, in our Holiday Market! Oh, and there’s one more way you can earn Festivity Tokens to use in the Market:

Complete Holiday Quests and earn more Festivity Tokens! A handful of quests will be available on Day 1 of the Winter Sale; check back throughout the duration of the sale to discover a new Quest each day.

Happy Holidays and Happy Gaming from all your friends in Steamville! Now, if you’ll excuse us, we must light the Yule Log in preparation for all the fun- and pry Mayor Carol away from her Nog before she has too much of it.

*Discounts end January 2nd at 10am PST, unless otherwise noted.
Steam News - AndrewL


As we near the end of 2019, we're continuing our look at popular monthly releases on Steam. With this post, we'll be looking back at the top 20 products released in November, measured by revenue generated during the first two weeks following release. We've also gathered the top 5 free-to-play releases, measured by peak concurrent player count in the two weeks following release.

With each month's list, we often highlight similarities between some of the month's top products. But this month, we noticed an exciting contrast between established franchises from well-known developers and fresh entries from newly created teams. Seeing franchises like Age of Empires, Sniper Ghost Warrior and Football Manager alongside newcomers like FrenzyRetribution, Ratropolis, and Lost Ember is really a testament to the variety of tastes present in the Steam community. Players certainly enjoy familiar content, but there is always room for unexpected surprises.

Another theme that stands out this month is the significant representation of prominent fan-favorite universes. These are names that need no introduction, as they are popular all over the world, not only in games - Gundam, Game of Thrones, Terminator, Warhammer and Star Wars. The success of these titles shows just how much excitement can be generated by huge universes that span across artistic mediums. Whether its comics, music, film or TV, we are definitely looking forward to seeing more universes make their way to games. Who knows, the franchise from your favorite book or movie just might end up on a future top release list.

Finally, we'd like to congratulate the teams that are releasing their very first product on Steam. Some of these teams have been making games for a while on other platforms, while some are recent college grads making their first commercial product. We're happy to welcome these 10 development teams that are new to Steam: Blueside, FrenzyZoneGameworkshop, YOUZU (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD., Mobile Technologies LLC, ALLM Co., Ltd., 2x2 Games, UMEO Studios, Respawn Entertainment, Cassel Games and Mooneye Studios.

November's Top Releases
Here is the full list of November's top releases ordered by release date (we've organized this list on a handy sale page too):


Ratropolis - Cassel Games


Planet Zoo - Frontier Developments


Pistol Whip - Cloudhead Games


ROMANCING SAGA 3™ - Square Enix & ArtePiazza


Kritika:REBOOT - ALLM Co., Ltd.


Unity of Command II - 2x2 Games & Croteam


The Legend of Bum-Bo - Edmund McMillen, James Interactive & Ridiculon


Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Forgotten Empires & Tantalus Media


Command: Modern Operations - Warfare Sims


Terminator: Resistance - Teyon


STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ - Respawn Entertainment


Kingdom Under Fire 2 - Blueside


Football Manager 2020 - Sports Interactive


Automation Empire - DOG HOGGLER


BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle - Arc System Works


This Land Is My Land - Game-Labs


Farmer's Dynasty - Toplitz Productions & UMEO Studios


Lost Ember - Mooneye Studios


Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts - CI Games


SD GUNDAM G GENERATION CROSS RAYS - TOM CREATE - 株式会社トムクリエイト

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November's Top Free Releases


Kritika:REBOOT - ALLM Co., Ltd.


Stay Out - Mobile Technologies LLC


Game of Thrones Winter is Coming - YOUZU (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.


Warhammer: Chaos and Conquest - Hunted Cow Studios


罪業狂襲FrenzyRetribution - FrenzyZoneGameworkshop

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If you're curious about previous months, here are more Top Release links:

One more little reminder - The Steam Winter Sale begins on Thursday the 19th.

Happy Holidays Everyone!
Steam News - Arisa


The nomination phase of the 2019 Steam Awards is complete, and the final nominees will be revealed over the coming eight days (one per category). Beginning today with the nominees for Outstanding Visual Style, the award nominees will be featured in a daily video reveal until the finalists for Game of the Year are revealed next Wednesday, December 18 (PST).

The Awards feature a total of eight categories, four of which are new this year. Community voting opens Thursday, December 19 (PST) when the annual Steam Holiday Sale begins. And the Winners are planned to be announced on New Year’s Eve.

This is the fourth year of the Steam Awards, with all nominees and winners decided by community voting.

To check out the nominee video reveals, please visit store.steampowered.com/steamawards/2019/

About this year’s Award Categories:

Game of the Year
Maybe it was its immersive gameplay, or its gripping story... its well-crafted characters, immaculate design, or addictive multiplayer. Whatever the reason, the winner of 2019's Game of the Year Award is an instant classic.

VR Game of the Year
When it comes to breaking new ground in games, there is no greater pace of advancement than in VR. If we had our way, all VR devs would get an award for building the future of immersive games and experiences unparalleled by any other medium. But since there’s only one trophy, it’s up to you, Steam Awards Selection Committee member, to crown just one as the best of 2019.

Labor of Love
This game has been out for a while. The team is well past the first unveiling of their creative baby, but being the good parents they are, these devs continue to nurture and support their creation. This game, to this day, is still getting new content after all these years.

Better with Friends
There are some games out there that just aren't the same when you play by yourself. Maybe you need to have a friend to watch your back. Maybe you need to have a friend that you can stab in their back. Either way, mirth is awaiting those who gather friends to play these games.

Most Innovative Gameplay
This game is at the front lines of experimentation, pushing the boundaries of the medium with exciting, novel interactions and brain-breaking surprises. This game thinks outside the box, and pulls you out with it!

Outstanding Story-Rich Game
Some days, only a narrative-heavy game will hit the spot, and this one packs a wallop. It's as gripping as any soap opera, and as well-tuned as a prestige-TV screenplay. Bravissimo -- for making us feel things!

Best Game You Suck At
Games have a way of pushing us past any limits we thought we had. Like a montage sequence, we put in work, training our fingers to be quick and nimble, mastering timing and placement over weeks and weeks. At the end of the gauntlet, we're rewarded with profound beauty and a deep sense of personal growth. Unless you hurled your monitor through a plate-glass window on the first day.

Outstanding Visual Style

These devs are the Willy Wonka of eye candy. Visual style doesn't aspire to real-world graphical fidelity (though a noble goal in itself)… it describes a distinctive look and feel that suffuses an entire game. This game displays visual cohesion and expression that not only fit the game's world, but make our world look paltry by comparison.
Steam News - Arisa


The 2019 Steam Autumn Sale ends in 24 hours.* Don't miss out on the great deals across the Steam catalog.
 
Open nominations for the 2019 Steam Awards end soon. Make sure to nominate, and help determine the finalists in all eight categories. In December, you can vote on the winners for each category during the Steam Winter Sale. Learn more about the Steam Awards here.
 
*Offers end Tuesday, December 3rd at 10am Pacific.

If you enjoyed the front page art for this year's Steam Autumn Sale and would like a desktop wallpaper version of it, you can download them below, along with category artwork for the 2019 Steam Awards.

Download the Steam Autumn Sale & Steam Awards 2019 Wallpapers
Steam News - Arisa


The 2019 Steam Autumn Sale continues through Cyber Monday*, with great deals across the Steam catalog.
 
Alongside the Steam Autumn Sale are open nominations for the 2019 Steam Awards. Your nominations across eight categories will help determine the finalists in each category – and you can earn profile XP and badges for participating. In December, you can vote on the winners for each category during the Steam Winter Sale. Learn more about the Steam Awards here.
 
*Offers end Tuesday December 3rd at 10am Pacific.
Steam News - Arisa


The 2019 Steam Autumn Sale is now live, with great deals across the Steam catalog through Black Friday and Cyber Monday*. Check in each day to see the new featured titles on the front page, plus personalized recommendations.
 
In addition to the thousands of great games that are on discount, join us in our fourth-annual Steam Awards and nominate your favorite games across all eight categories, and earn profile XP and badges for participating! Your nominations will help determine the finalists for each category. In December, you can vote on the winners for each category during the Steam Winter Sale. Learn more about the Steam Awards here.
 
*Offers end Tuesday December 3rd at 10am Pacific.
Steam News - AndrewL


Another month is in the books, and with it we take a look back at the top products released in October on Steam. This list will look at the top 20 releases of October measured by the revenue they generated during the first two weeks following their release. We also included the top 6 most popular free to play releases, measured by peak concurrent player count following release.

We have quite a bit of fun watching different trends and themes develop as new products release from month to month. We've consistently touched on some of these themes in our past lists, and they are worth summarizing this month as well:
  • 4 games either leaving or entering Early Access.
  • 10 developers bringing a product to Steam for the first time.
  • 13 different countries represented by developers this month.
  • 13 games with some level of controller support.

This month we decided to take a more detailed look at the communities playing these games and investigate whether players play more than one of the games on this list. When we looked at the people playing these games from the Top Releases list during October, the first glaring stat is just how many people played Destiny 2 – The game peaked at nearly 300,000 concurrent players just a few days after release, putting it among the most played games on all of Steam at launch, and it has remained there ever since - https://store.steampowered.com/stats/.

Destiny 2 appears again when we look at players that have played any other game on the Top Releases list – nearly 20% of players that played other games in the top 20 also played Destiny 2. This overlap is no surprise with the sheer popularity of Destiny 2, but it's reassuring to also find an overlap between other products. While the numbers are not as high, the overlap in people playing more than one game from the Top Releases list presents some interesting correlations worth highlighting. For example, we found a lot of players enjoying both Atelier Ryza & Indivisible, which are both anime RPGs featuring turn-based combat and female protagonists. We found similar overlap in players across We Were Here Together and Trine 4, which both incorporate heavy use of puzzles with an emphasis on cooperative gameplay. Crossroads Inn & Autonauts have very different themes, but both games utilize building and simulation. For players who enjoy games with similar themes or mechanics, there is an exciting amount of choice when it comes to deciding what to play on Steam. But these examples also show that players don’t always have to choose; they often play more than one.

For the coming months, we've been playing with some ways to present these lists in a more accessible and interactive way. Stay tuned, and as always, let us know what you think!

*Update – 11/25/2019* Our initial list did not include one of the top free releases this month: NGU IDLE. This announcement and respective store page have been updated to reflect this, and now include the top 6 free releases of October.

October's Top Releases
Here is the list of October's top releases ordered by release date (we've organized this list on a handy sale page too):


Destiny 2 - Bungie (US)


Indivisible - Lab Zero Games (US)


Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince - Frozenbyte (Finland)


DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS - Marvelous Inc. & Brownies Inc. (Japan)


MISTOVER - KRAFTON, Inc. (South Korea)


GRID - Codemasters (UK)


Pine - Twirlbound (Netherlands)


We Were Here Together - Total Mayhem Games (Netherlands)


POSTAL 4: No Regerts - Running With Scissors (US)


Chernobylite - The Farm 51 (Poland)


Disco Elysium - ZA/UM (UK)


The Jackbox Party Pack 6 - Jackbox Games, Inc. (US)


ArcheAge: Unchained - XLGAMES (South Korea)


Autonauts - Denki (UK)


Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition - h.a.n.d., Inc. (Japan)


WWE 2K20 - Visual Concepts (US)


Crossroads Inn - Kraken Unleashed (Poland)


Richman10 - Softstar Technology (Beijing) Co.,Ltd (China)


Secret Neighbor -Hologryph (Ukraine) & Dynamic Pixels (Russia)


Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout - KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. (Japan)

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October's Top Free Releases


Destiny 2 - Bungie (US)


NGU IDLE - 4G (Canada)


Breeders of the Nephelym: Alpha - DerelictHelmsman (US)


Walking Zombie 2 - Alda Games (Czech Republic)


Legend of Keepers: Prologue - Goblinz Studio (France)


War Selection - Glyph Woods (Russia)

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If you're curious about previous months, here are more Top Release links:

Cheers!
-The Steam Team
Steam News - christen


Nov 20, 2019 -- After roughly one month in beta, Steam Remote Play Together is now released to all Steam users. With this feature, local multiplayer gaming is now extended to iOS and Android devices. Remote Play Together enables cross-platform play among friends across Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Up to four players, or even more in ideal conditions, can instantly join in the fun. Only the host needs to own and install the game, while additional players connect through Steam Remote Play streaming technology using their PC or the Steam Chat and Steam Link mobile apps.

In celebration of the release, Steam is hosting a Remote Play Together Sale & Streaming Event featuring streamers from around the world sharing games using Remote Play Together. In addition, hundreds of games that leverage the new feature are on sale through November 25th at 10AM PDT.

For more information, please visit https://store.steampowered.com/together.
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