An 18-year-old developer from New Hampshire has seen his game, This Game Costs $200, generate significant but fleeting revenue on Steam. Despite the title reaching a lifetime revenue of $1.38 million, the developer, Michael Major, received a final payout of only $2,045 due to an overwhelming volume of refunds.
Quick Facts
- Game Title: This Game Costs $200
- Total Sales: 6,717 units
- Total Refunds: 6,707 units
- Refund Rate: 99.9%
- Net Payout: $2,045
Major, who previously released a title called This Game Costs $10, set the $200 price point as a joke, expecting minimal interest. Instead, the game saw a surge in purchases, largely traced back to China. Because Steam allows users to refund games played for less than two hours, the vast majority of the 6,717 buyers were able to request their money back after testing the software.
The game is described as a satirical project featuring themes such as beer, cigarettes, and a fictional city called Schizopia. Valve has not provided an official statement regarding the surge in activity or the potential for unusual purchasing patterns behind the event.