72% of devs believe Steam has a monopoly on PC games, according to study

More than half of developers feel they rely too heavily on Steam to distribute their games, with 72% believing the platform has a monopoly on the PC games market.

That’s according to a new whitepaper from PC distribution platform Rokky titled ‘The State of PC Game Distribution.’

The independent study, conducted by Atomik Research, surveyed 306 industry executives across the UK and USA between May 18 and May 22, 2025.

75% of respondents were senior managers of C-suite level, with 77% from studios with more than 50 employees.

The study found that for the majority of studios, Steam accounts for over 75% of revenue.

However, it also noted that developers have started utilising other platforms including the Epic Game Store and the Xbox PC Games store.

Almost half of those surveyed (48%) have distributed a title to both stores, while 10% have used GOG and 8% have used Itch.io.

Rokky does note that as its survey is “dominated by larger companies with diverse portfolios”, a larger proportion use storefronts like the Epic Games Store rather than Itch.io, which aims to serve independent developers.

Elsewhere, the study found that 32% of developers release some of their games on physical media (disc, cartridges, and ‘keys-in-boxes’).

Marketplaces like G2A and Kinguin are also an option for distribution, as are E-stores such as Fanatical and Humble Bundle.

Developers highlighted benefits for both including ease of use, pricing control, promotional support, and international reach.

Data also showed that 80% of those surveyed expect to use alternative channels alongside Steam within five years.

75% predict they will see “at least a 10% uplift in revenue” from using marketplaces and E-stores in particular.

However, respondents voiced concerns regarding the gray market when using these platforms, as well as potential loss of control.

“With a growing prominence of E-stores and marketplaces, PC game distribution is more varied, vast, and complex than it has ever been,” Rokky co-founder and CEO Vadim Andreev.

“New opportunities are everywhere – as are pitfalls and challenges. And most of the old guard remain relevant. Understanding the nuances has never been more important, and so we created this report to highlight the trends that matter.”