Steam Summer Sale: How Valve Rakes It In While We Pok Gai Gamers Go Broke

Yo, fellow pok gai gamers and all the wannabe Steam sale survivors—strap in, because it’s that time of year again when your wallet takes more L’s than your KD ratio in Valorant. The Steam Summer Sale is back, and while you’re busy justifying another $2 indie game you’ll never play, Valve is out here printing money like it’s mahjong night at your por por’s house.

But how does Steam actually make money when everything is dirt cheap? Let’s break it down, juk sing style—straight talk, no filter.

Steam’s Secret Sauce: The Math Behind the Madness

• Commission is King: Steam takes a cut of every game sold—usually 30% for the first $10 million a game earns, dropping to 25% and 20% for the big ballers. Even when games are 75% off, Valve’s still collecting that sweet, sweet commission.

• No Physical Costs, No Problem: Unlike your uncle’s DVD shop in Mong Kok, Steam doesn’t need to press discs or ship boxes. Server costs are peanuts compared to the cash flying in during sales.

• Old Games, New Money: Most sale games are already past their prime. Devs and publishers already made their money, so anything from the sale is just extra cha ching—like finding lai see money in your old jacket.

• Volume Over Margin: Lowering prices means more people buy. A game that sold 5 copies at $50 can suddenly sell 500 at $5. Do the math—more money, more happy devs, more happy Valve.

• Extra Fees and Ecosystem: Don’t forget the $100 Steam Direct fee for every new game, plus transaction fees on the community market. Every skin sold, every badge crafted, Valve gets a slice.

What Can Game Designers, Marketers, and Influencers Learn?

• Designers: Don’t sleep on the long tail. Your game’s launch hype will die, but a good sale can revive it like a Phoenix Down. Plan for sales, and make sure your game is ready to shine when the spotlight hits.

• Marketers: FOMO is real. Steam sales are all about urgency—limited time, deep discounts, and that “just one more” mentality. Use this playbook for your own promos, whether you’re selling games or merch.

• Influencers: Sales are content goldmines. Stream your haul, do meme reviews of your backlog, or roast your viewers’ Steam libraries. The engagement is there—just don’t forget to tag us when you go viral.

Gamers: We’re All Pok Gai, But at Least We’re Happy

Let’s be real—most of us are just out here adding games to our library we’ll never play. But hey, at least we’re getting deals, right? Valve’s laughing all the way to the bank, but we’re laughing at our own pain (and our empty wallets).

Call to Action: Help Out PokGaiGamer!

If you enjoyed this spicy take, do your part for the pok gai community!

• Subscribe to our YouTube—we’re joining the ranks of other pok gai streamers, roasting games, and maybe even giving away some Steam keys (if we can afford it).

• Follow our socials—because misery loves company, and you don’t want to miss our next sale survival guide.

Don’t be a siu keung—support your local pok gai gamer. See you in the next queue for discounted games, and remember: the real boss fight is your credit card bill.