According to Steam Replay, just 15% of all playtime in 2024 was spent on games released this year.
Despite high-profile 2024 titles like Palworld, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, and Banana launching on Steam, most users are still gravitating toward older games.
Steam Users Prefer Classics and Recent Favorites
The breakdown shows that 47% of playtime was spent on games released in the past 1-7 years, while 37% was dedicated to classic games (released 8 or more years ago).
This trend suggests that while new games are still being played, older titles continue to dominate the platform.
Is Steam Losing Gamers to Older Titles?
While it may seem like gamers are avoiding new releases, that’s not the case. Popular 2024 games like Helldivers 2 and Black Myth: Wukong set sales records, and Path of Exile 2 and Marvel Rivals attracted large player numbers.
However, the 15% figure is still an improvement over last year’s 9% for 2023 releases.
Old Games Remain Popular
Steam’s most-played list also reflects this pattern, with older titles like Counter-Strike 2, PUBG, and Dota 2 leading the pack. Games that have been out for years, such as GTA 5, Rust, and Apex Legends, continue to hold strong player bases.
This trend isn’t unique to Steam. Data from earlier this year revealed that games over six years old accounted for over 60% of playtime across PC and console in 2023.
Despite the influx of new titles, many gamers are sticking with their favorites, proving that once a game captures players’ attention, it’s hard to pull them away.
Steam’s data highlights the enduring appeal of older games and the ongoing challenge for publishers to attract players to newer releases.
