The first six months of the year were Steam’s biggest, thanks to continued growth in back-catalogue sales as well as blockbuster new releases like Forza Horizon 6 and Resident Evil Requiem. As industry analysts Alinea Analytics report, September was another record breaker based on their estimated figures.
« Steam generated $1.7 billion in September 2026, » Rhys Elliott, Alinea’s head of market analysis, wrote, « the platform’s best September to date, up 13% on the previous record, September of last year. »
Wardogs was the smash hit new release of September, though Elliott noted the « hype cycles and virality » of comparably leftfield surprises Arc Raiders and Helldivers 2 were more sustained. « By this point, Helldivers 2 had made $130M (26.5% more than Wardogs) on Steam, while Arc Raiders had made about $125M (21.2% more). »
Still, Wardogs generated an estimated $86.9M on Steam in September. Elliott highlights Onimusha: Way of the Sword ($30.4M), The Blood of Dawnwalker ($26.9M), Bodycam ($24.2M), and EA Sports FC27 ($20.7M) as the other big new launches on Steam that month.
« Steam also had its best-ever Q3, » Elliott wrote, « generating $5.5B (up 12% on last year). That brings the 2026 total to $16.5B so far, a 13% increase from the $14.5B Steam made in the first nine months of 2025. Given the insane release slate for the rest of the year, it’s safe to say Steam’s yearly revenue will blow past $20B for the first time. »
He’s not wrong about the rest of the year. Looking at just October’s calendar shows how spoiled for choice we are.
Steam Frame: Valve’s new wireless VR headset
Steam Machine: Compact living room gaming box
Steam Controller: A controller to replace your mouse
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