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Global Indie Games Market Report 2024

Jan 2, 2024·2 min read

Summary

For the first time, indie games are generating as much revenue as AAA and AA titles on Steam. Record-breaking releases like Black Myth: Wukong and Palworld have sold tens of millions of units. The indie market has grown every year since 2020, despite wider industry slowdown.

The market splits into segments: Triple I Indies, Middle Market, Small Teams, and Hobbyists, each with unique trends. Experienced indie developers see better financial success with each release, indicating industry maturation.

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