Imperator: Rome Steam key art
Imperator: Rome cover art

Steam revenue analysis

Imperator: Rome Steam Revenue & Sales Estimates

Paradox Development Studio · Paradox Interactive

$21.3MEst. Gross Revenue

874,566 estimated sales, 65% positive reviews, and $15,497,998.56 potentially retained by the developer after Steam's platform fees.

Simulation65% Positive$39.99MC 76

Revenue Overview

$21.3M

Gross Revenue

$15.5M

Developer Revenue

874,566

Est. Copies Sold

$3M

Revenue / Year (avg. 7 yr)

$12.9MLow estimate
$21.3MBest estimate
$38.8MHigh estimate

How the revenue splits

Gross Revenue
$21,330,665
Steam Platform Fee(27.3%)
−$5,832,666
Developer Revenue
$15,497,999

Developer vs. Steam

Developer: 72.7%($15,497,999)Steam: 27.3%($5,832,666)

Tiered Fee Structure

Tier 1 ($0–$10M) (30%)$3,000,000
Tier 2 ($10M–$50M) (25%)$2,832,666
Tier 3 ($50M+) (20%)

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

How we estimate this

65%positive
26,502Total Reviews
17,226positive (65%)
9,276negative (35%)

Step by step

  1. 1

    Capture Steam review volume as the primary demand signal

    26,502 reviews and a 65% 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 Imperator: Rome, we use a midpoint multiplier of ×33 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 $40, we estimate a realized average sale price of $24 to account for discounting over time.

  4. 4

    Translate gross revenue into developer revenue

    We then apply Steam's effective fee rate of 27.3%. That turns an estimated $21,330,665 in gross revenue into roughly $15,497,999 retained by the developer.

Calibrated inputs for this game

Avg. sale price

$24.39

List price $39.99

Boxleiter multiplier

×33

Range ×20–×60

Effective Steam fee

27.3%

Tiered 30 / 25 / 20%

Revenue estimates for Imperator: Rome use the Boxleiter method with a broad range from x20 to x60. For the best estimate we use a calibrated midpoint of x33 and a calibrated average sale price of $24 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: $21,330,665

To developer

$15,497,999

To developer: 72.7%

$15,497,999

Platform fee: 27.3%

$5,832,666

Epic Games Store

Gross revenue baseline: $21,330,665

To developer

$18,890,985

To developer: 88.6%

$18,890,985

Platform fee: 11.4%

$2,439,680

Epic: 0% on the first $1M in annual per-app revenue, then 12%. Effective here: 11.4%.

GOG

Gross revenue baseline: $21,330,665

To developer

$14,931,465

To developer: 70.0%

$14,931,465

Platform fee: 30.0%

$6,399,199

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

Genre Market Position

Top 40% by revenue in Simulation
40%

Top 40% of Simulation games

by estimated revenue

0%◆ Median100%

40

Top Games Tracked

$17.6M

Median (tracked top games)

$45.4M

Mean (tracked top games)

Imperator: Rome ranks in the top 40% of 40 tracked simulation 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

37.3h avg10.3h median

37.3h

Average Playtime

10.3h

Median Playtime

9.1h

Recent Activity (2 Weeks)

A median playtime of 10.3h and average of 37.3h suggest a dedicated core community playing this simulation game well beyond the typical player.

Current Activity24% still active

Game Details

Dataset updated: April 18, 2026

DeveloperParadox Development Studio
PublisherParadox Interactive
Release DateApril 24, 2019
Years on Market7 years
Current Price$39.99
Calibrated Avg. Selling Price$24.39
GenreSimulation
Peak Players547
SteamSpy Owners1,000,000 .. 2,000,000

Features

Single-playerMulti-playerPvPOnline PvPSteam AchievementsSteam Trading CardsSteam WorkshopSteam CloudFamily Sharing

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much has Imperator: Rome earned on Steam?

Based on our analysis using the Boxleiter method, we estimate Imperator: Rome's total gross revenue on Steam at approximately $21,330,665.

This estimate comes with a confidence range:

  • Conservative estimate (x20): $12,927,676
  • Calibrated midpoint (x33): $21,330,665
  • Optimistic estimate (x60): $38,783,027

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

How many copies has Imperator: Rome sold on Steam?

With 26,502 Steam reviews and a 65% positive rating, we estimate Imperator: Rome has sold between 530,040 and 1,590,120 copies, with a best estimate of 874,566.

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 x33 that adjusts for the title's age, price tier, genre, and review profile.

How much does Paradox Development Studio earn from Imperator: Rome?

After Steam's tiered platform fee of effectively 27.3%, Paradox Development Studio keeps an estimated $15,497,999 from Imperator: Rome's gross revenue of $21,330,665.

Here's the breakdown:

  • Gross Revenue: $21,330,665
  • Steam's Fee (27.3%): -$5,832,666
  • Developer Revenue: $15,497,999

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

What percentage does Steam take from Imperator: Rome?

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 Imperator: Rome, with an estimated gross revenue of $21,330,665, this results in an effective rate of 27.3%. Steam keeps approximately $5,832,666 and Paradox Development Studio receives $15,497,999.

How accurate are these revenue estimates for Imperator: Rome?

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 ($12,927,676 to $38,783,027) to reflect this uncertainty. For the best estimate we combine the Boxleiter range with a calibrated midpoint (x33) and a calibrated ASP of $24.

What would Imperator: Rome earn on Epic Games Store instead?

If Imperator: Rome generated the same gross revenue on the Epic Games Store, Paradox Development Studio would keep approximately $18,890,985 - that's $3,392,986 more than on Steam.

At this revenue level, Epic's concrete platform fee would be $2,439,680. 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 $14,931,465.

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 Imperator: Rome?

According to SteamSpy data, players spend an average of 37.3 hours in Imperator: Rome, with a median playtime of 10.3 hours. The large gap between average and median suggests a dedicated core community playing well beyond the typical player.

What is Imperator: Rome's Metacritic score?

Imperator: Rome has a Metacritic score of 76/100, which is considered "generally favorable" by critics. The Steam community rates the game 65% positive based on 26,502 user reviews.