Steam calculates a developer’s share from the monthly Steam Sales Report: it subtracts applicable adjustments such as taxes, returns and chargebacks from gross revenue to get net revenue, then applies the percentage in the developer’s signed Steam Distribution Agreement. The report formula—not simply a percentage of a game’s consumer list price—is the right place to start when estimating a Steam payment.
How does Steam calculate a developer’s revenue share?
Steam’s monthly report uses three steps. Steam’s Reporting and Payments FAQ describes the result as Gross Revenues less Applicable Adjustments to get Net Revenue, multiplied by the revenue-share percentage to calculate the amount payable.
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- Start with Gross Revenues. This is the sales revenue shown before the adjustments used in the monthly report. Other sales information on the secure partner site may show gross amounts without those deductions, so it can differ from the monthly report.
- Subtract Applicable Adjustments. Steam identifies taxes, returns and chargebacks as adjustments. The resulting Net Revenue is the basis for calculating the share.
- Apply the agreement’s percentage. Steam multiplies Net Revenue by the revenue-share percentage set out in the partner’s signed Steam Distribution Agreement. Any applicable withholding tax can further affect the payment.
Steam’s documentation reviewed for this article does not establish a universal base share percentage. Developers should use their signed agreement for the binding rate rather than assume a particular headline percentage applies to every partner.
What does Steam’s $100 Direct fee cover, and when is it recouped?
Steam’s Steam Direct page lists a $100 USD fee, or regional equivalent, for each new app. The fee is nonrefundable, but Steam says it can be recouped in the payment after that product reaches $1,000 in Adjusted Gross Revenue from Steam Store or in-app purchases. Steam lists the recoupment as a separate line item in the monthly report.
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These figures are separate from the payment minimum: the $1,000 threshold concerns recouping the Direct fee, while the $100 minimum is an amount Steam may require before releasing a payment. Steam also says it may withhold sales revenue and fee repayment if the deposit payment is charged back, refunded or otherwise identified as fraudulent.
Which apps can accrue additional revenue share?
Steam’s Finance FAQ says apps classified as “Game” or “Application” are eligible to accrue additional revenue share. Its package attribution rules affect which app receives proceeds:
- If a package includes a Game or Application app alongside DLC, music or other app types, Steam attributes the package sale to the Game or Application app.
- If a package contains only DLC, Steam attributes its revenue to the parent app when that parent is a Game or Application.
Steam’s financial API reference enumerates additional-share tiers of 5% and 10%. That reference does not establish the revenue thresholds for those tiers or the base share percentage, so the tier values alone do not show what a particular game qualifies for. Check the signed agreement or a current official Steam statement for the applicable terms.
When and how does Steam pay developers?
According to Steam’s Reporting and Payments FAQ, Steam pays by the 30th of the month following the sales month, provided the partner’s bank and tax information is complete and verified. Payments are electronic funds transfers in US dollars: ACH for US payments and USD SWIFT wire for payments outside the US. The FAQ says Steam does not offer other payment methods.
Steam may hold payment until the $100 minimum is earned. Partners can also configure a payment-hold threshold in Steamworks. Intermediary or receiving-bank fees may make the deposited amount differ from the share shown in Steam’s report; Valve says it does not pass wire fees to partners, but cannot control fees charged by their banks.
Why can Steamworks sales figures differ from the monthly report?
Sales information available on the secure partner site can be near-real-time and may show gross amounts before adjustments. The monthly Steam Sales Report is the relevant record for understanding adjusted net revenue and the share calculation. Partners can find monthly reports under Reports in the secure Steamworks partner site and export them.
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How can withholding taxes affect a Steam payment?
Steam’s Tax FAQ explains that the US-source portion of a partner’s revenue share may be relevant to withholding and annual tax reporting. Steam gives 30% withholding as a possible rate for a non-US taxpayer without an applicable US tax-treaty benefit; this is not a universal deduction for all developers. The actual withholding depends on the partner’s tax interview and circumstances.
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What should developers verify before estimating revenue?
- Use the signed Steam Distribution Agreement to establish the base share and any additional-share terms; the public references cited here do not establish the exact base rate or tier thresholds.
- Estimate from net revenue after applicable adjustments, not solely from consumer list prices or preliminary gross sales figures.
- Account separately for the per-app Direct fee and its recoupment threshold, the minimum payout, possible withholding, and bank fees.
- Use the monthly Steam Sales Report to reconcile reported gross revenue, adjustments and the resulting share.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
