How to Survive Steam key art
How to Survive cover art

Steam revenue analysis

How to Survive Steam Revenue & Sales Estimates

Eko Software · 505 Games

$4.3MEst. Gross Revenue

629,925 estimated sales, 83% positive reviews, and $3,042,537.75 potentially retained by the developer after Steam's platform fees.

Action83% Positive$3.74

Revenue Overview

$4.3M

Gross Revenue

$3M

Developer Revenue

629,925

Est. Copies Sold

$362.2K

Revenue / Year (avg. 12 yr)

$2.3MLow estimate
$4.3MBest estimate
$7MHigh estimate

How the revenue splits

Gross Revenue
$4,346,483
− Steam Platform Fee(30.0%)
−$1,303,945
Developer Revenue
$3,042,538

Developer vs. Steam

Developer: 70.0%($3,042,538)Steam: 30.0%($1,303,945)

Tiered Fee Structure

Tier 1 ($0–$10M) (30%)$1,303,945
Tier 2 ($10M–$50M) (25%)—
Tier 3 ($50M+) (20%)—

More context in the Steam game revenue hub or in the Steam revenue calculator.

How we estimate this

83%positive
17,025Total Reviews
14,131positive (83%)
2,894negative (17%)

Step by step

  1. 1

    Capture Steam review volume as the primary demand signal

    17,025 reviews and a 83% positive rating are used as the starting point because Steam review counts correlate strongly with paid ownership.

  2. 2

    Apply a calibrated Boxleiter multiplier

    For How to Survive, we use a midpoint multiplier of ×37 and show a wider range from ×20 to ×60 to reflect uncertainty.

  3. 3

    Use a realistic realized sale price instead of only list price

    Rather than relying only on the current price of $4, we estimate a realized average sale price of $7 to account for discounting over time.

  4. 4

    Translate gross revenue into developer revenue

    We then apply Steam's effective fee rate of 30.0%. That turns an estimated $4,346,483 in gross revenue into roughly $3,042,538 retained by the developer.

Calibrated inputs for this game

Avg. sale price

$6.90

List price $3.74

Boxleiter multiplier

×37

Range ×20–×60

Effective Steam fee

30.0%

Tiered 30 / 25 / 20%

Revenue estimates for How to Survive use the Boxleiter method with a broad range from x20 to x60. For the best estimate we use a calibrated midpoint of x37 and a calibrated average sale price of $7 instead of a flat 30x/0.75 model. Factors like age, price tier, discount history, genre, and review profile all affect the true reviews-to-sales ratio.

Platform Comparison

Hypothetical: What would the developer earn at the same gross revenue?

Steam

Gross revenue baseline: $4,346,483

To developer

$3,042,538

To developer: 70.0%

$3,042,538

Platform fee: 30.0%

$1,303,945

Epic Games Store

Gross revenue baseline: $4,346,483

To developer

$3,944,905

To developer: 90.8%

$3,944,905

Platform fee: 9.2%

$401,578

Epic: 0% on the first $1M in annual per-app revenue, then 12%. Effective here: 9.2%.

GOG

Gross revenue baseline: $4,346,483

To developer

$3,042,538

To developer: 70.0%

$3,042,538

Platform fee: 30.0%

$1,303,945

* Actual sales on Epic and GOG are not estimated. Steam's larger user base typically drives substantially higher sales volumes.

Genre Market Position

Top 61% by revenue in Action
61%

Top 61% of Action games

by estimated revenue

0%◆ Median100%

2,141

Top Games Tracked

$6M

Median (tracked top games)

$20.8M

Mean (tracked top games)

How to Survive ranks in the top 61% of 2141 tracked action top-sellers.

Baseline: HelpfulCalculator's curated set of top-grossing Steam games, not the entire Steam catalog. Niche genres may have small samples.

Playtime & Engagement

6h avg2.9h median

6h

Average Playtime

2.9h

Median Playtime

A median playtime of 2.9h and average of 6h suggest a dedicated core community playing this action game well beyond the typical player.

Game Details

Dataset updated: April 18, 2026

DeveloperEko Software
Publisher505 Games
Release DateAugust 28, 2014
Years on Market12 years
Current Price$3.74
Calibrated Avg. Selling Price$6.90
GenreAction
Peak Players10
SteamSpy Owners1,000,000 .. 2,000,000
SteamView on Store

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much has How to Survive earned on Steam?

Based on our analysis using the Boxleiter method, we estimate How to Survive's total gross revenue on Steam at approximately $4,346,483.

This estimate comes with a confidence range:

  • Conservative estimate (x20): $2,349,450
  • Calibrated midpoint (x37): $4,346,483
  • Optimistic estimate (x60): $7,048,350

The actual revenue may vary due to regional pricing, seasonal discounts, and refund rates.

How many copies has How to Survive sold on Steam?

With 17,025 Steam reviews and a 83% positive rating, we estimate How to Survive has sold between 340,500 and 1,021,500 copies, with a best estimate of 629,925.

This is based on the Boxleiter method, which uses the observation that roughly 1 in every 20 to 60 buyers leaves a Steam review. For the midpoint we do not assume a universal 30x value; we use a calibrated multiplier of x37 that adjusts for the title's age, price tier, genre, and review profile.

How much does Eko Software earn from How to Survive?

After Steam's tiered platform fee of effectively 30.0%, Eko Software keeps an estimated $3,042,538 from How to Survive's gross revenue of $4,346,483.

Here's the breakdown:

  • Gross Revenue: $4,346,483
  • Steam's Fee (30.0%): -$1,303,945
  • Developer Revenue: $3,042,538

Note: This doesn't account for publisher shares, taxes, or development costs.

What percentage does Steam take from How to Survive?

Steam uses a tiered revenue sharing model that reduces the platform's cut as a game earns more:

  • First $10 million: 30% to Steam, 70% to developer
  • $10M to $50M: 25% to Steam, 75% to developer
  • Above $50M: 20% to Steam, 80% to developer

For How to Survive, with an estimated gross revenue of $4,346,483, this results in an effective rate of 30.0%. Steam keeps approximately $1,303,945 and Eko Software receives $3,042,538.

How accurate are these revenue estimates for How to Survive?

These estimates use the Boxleiter method, a widely-used industry approach that estimates game sales from the number of Steam reviews.

Factors that affect accuracy:

  • Review-to-purchase ratio varies by genre
  • Discount history - games with frequent deep sales may have higher ratios
  • Regional pricing - different prices in different markets are not captured
  • Refunds - Steam's return policy means some counted sales were refunded
  • Bundled sales - keys sold through third-party bundles may not generate reviews

We provide a confidence range ($2,349,450 to $7,048,350) to reflect this uncertainty. For the best estimate we combine the Boxleiter range with a calibrated midpoint (x37) and a calibrated ASP of $7.

What would How to Survive earn on Epic Games Store instead?

If How to Survive generated the same gross revenue on the Epic Games Store, Eko Software would keep approximately $3,944,905 - that's $902,367 more than on Steam.

At this revenue level, Epic's concrete platform fee would be $401,578. Epic charges 0% on the first $1 million in annual per-app revenue and then 12% on the remaining amount. On GOG (30% cut), the developer would earn approximately $3,042,538.

Note: This is a hypothetical comparison. Actual sales volumes differ significantly between platforms, and Steam's larger user base typically drives substantially higher sales.

How long do players spend in How to Survive?

According to SteamSpy data, players spend an average of 6 hours in How to Survive, with a median playtime of 2.9 hours. The large gap between average and median suggests a dedicated core community playing well beyond the typical player.