Although paying for ones and zeros strung together in exciting ways isn’t at all unfamiliar in an age of digital distribution and pay-for DLC, it’s still interesting to see just how much money comes from selling digital merchandise. Doubly so when it comes from the craftings of regular Steam users.
For the unaware, Steam Workshop is a system where Steam users can generate and sell content to each other for a small selection of Valve titles for use in-game. Generally, weapon skins or aesthetic items such as hats, capes, or scarves.
According to a recent Valve announcement, Steam Workshop creators have collectively made over $57 million by 1,500 creators from the Steam Workshop’s sold items. Anyone want to take a guess as to how many of those are Team Fortress 2 hats?
While I doubt the average is indicative of each person’s earnings, that averages to over $38,000 per creator, which is a pretty good amount of income to make on what is effectively no-cost effort. Admittedly, this is over the space of four years, since the inception of the Steam Workshop in 2011, and certainly no amount to sniff at.
This kind of news is always exciting to see. Players having an opportunity to showcase their interests while also having an opportunity to earn some income while sharing their creations is pretty fantastic. Since the announcement is also paired with the release of two non-Valve games - Dungeon Defenders: Eternity and Chivalry: Medieval Warfare are being added to the workshop - here’s hoping creators can earn even more money over the next few years.
Taylor Hidalgo
@NukeLassic
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