More than half of developers believe they rely too heavily on Steam to distribute their games, with 72% believing the platform has a monopoly on the PC games market.
This is revealed in a new white paper from PC distribution platform Rokky, titled “The State of PC Gaming Distribution.”
The independent study, conducted by Atomik Research, surveyed 306 industry executives in the UK and US between 18 and 22 May 2025.
75% of respondents were senior executives, with 77% from studios with more than 50 employees.
The study found that for most studios, Steam accounts for more than 75% of revenue.
However, he also noted that developers have begun to use other platforms, including the Epic Game Store and the Xbox PC Games Store.
Almost half of respondents (48%) distributed the game on both stores, 10% used GOG and 8% used Itch.io.
Rocky notes that because his survey is “dominated by larger companies with diverse portfolios,” a large portion use storefronts like the Epic Games Store rather than Itch.iowhose purpose is to serve independent developers.
In another study, the study found that 32% of developers release some of their games on physical media (discs, cartridges, and key-in-boxes).
Distribution options also include marketplaces such as G2A and Kinguin, as well as e-tailers such as Fanatical and Humble Bundle.
The developers highlighted the benefits of both, including ease of use, price control, advertising support and international reach.
The data also showed that 80% of respondents plan to use alternative channels alongside Steam within five years.
75% predict they will see “at least a 10% increase in revenue” from using marketplaces and e-commerce in particular.
However, respondents expressed concern about gray market when using these platforms, as well as the potential loss of control.
“With the growing popularity of electronic stores and marketplaces, the distribution of computer games has become more diverse, expansive and complex than ever,” Vadim Andreev, co-founder and CEO of Rokky.
“New opportunities are everywhere, as are pitfalls and challenges. And much of the old guard remains relevant. Understanding the nuances has never been more important, which is why we created this report to highlight important trends.”
