System Shock 2 (1999) Steam key art
System Shock 2 (1999) cover art

Steam revenue analysis

System Shock 2 (1999) Steam Revenue & Sales Estimates

Nightdive Studios, Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios · Nightdive Studios

$2.1MEst. Gross Revenue

228,330 estimated sales, 95% positive reviews, and $1,452,863.79 potentially retained by the developer after Steam's platform fees.

Action95% Positive$9.99

Revenue Overview

$2.1M

Gross Revenue

$1.5M

Developer Revenue

228,330

Est. Copies Sold

$2.1M

Revenue / Year (avg. 1 yr)

$1.4MLow estimate
$2.1MBest estimate
$4.2MHigh estimate

How the revenue splits

Gross Revenue
$2,075,520
Steam Platform Fee(30.0%)
−$622,656
Developer Revenue
$1,452,864

Developer vs. Steam

Developer: 70.0%($1,452,864)Steam: 30.0%($622,656)

Tiered Fee Structure

Tier 1 ($0–$10M) (30%)$622,656
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

95%positive
7,611Total Reviews
7,230positive (95%)
381negative (5%)

Step by step

  1. 1

    Capture Steam review volume as the primary demand signal

    7,611 reviews and a 95% 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 System Shock 2 (1999), we use a midpoint multiplier of ×30 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 $10, we estimate a realized average sale price of $9 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 $2,075,520 in gross revenue into roughly $1,452,864 retained by the developer.

Calibrated inputs for this game

Avg. sale price

$9.09

List price $9.99

Boxleiter multiplier

×30

Range ×20–×60

Effective Steam fee

30.0%

Tiered 30 / 25 / 20%

Revenue estimates for System Shock 2 (1999) use the Boxleiter method with a broad range from x20 to x60. For the best estimate we use a calibrated midpoint of x30 and a calibrated average sale price of $9 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: $2,075,520

To developer

$1,452,864

To developer: 70.0%

$1,452,864

Platform fee: 30.0%

$622,656

Epic Games Store

Gross revenue baseline: $2,075,520

To developer

$1,946,457

To developer: 93.8%

$1,946,457

Platform fee: 6.2%

$129,062

Epic: 0% on the first $1M in annual per-app revenue, then 12%. Effective here: 6.2%.

GOG

Gross revenue baseline: $2,075,520

To developer

$1,452,864

To developer: 70.0%

$1,452,864

Platform fee: 30.0%

$622,656

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

Genre Market Position

Top 86% by revenue in Action
86%

Top 86% of Action games

by estimated revenue

0%◆ Median100%

2,141

Top Games Tracked

$6M

Median (tracked top games)

$20.8M

Mean (tracked top games)

System Shock 2 (1999) ranks in the top 86% 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

4.9h avg1.9h median

4.9h

Average Playtime

1.9h

Median Playtime

A median playtime of 1.9h and average of 4.9h suggest a dedicated core community playing this action game well beyond the typical player.

Game Details

Dataset updated: April 18, 2026

DeveloperNightdive Studios, Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios
PublisherNightdive Studios
Release Date
Years on Market1 year
Current Price$9.99
Calibrated Avg. Selling Price$9.09
GenreAction
Peak Players18
SteamSpy Owners200,000 .. 500,000

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much has System Shock 2 (1999) earned on Steam?

Based on our analysis using the Boxleiter method, we estimate System Shock 2 (1999)'s total gross revenue on Steam at approximately $2,075,520.

This estimate comes with a confidence range:

  • Conservative estimate (x20): $1,383,680
  • Calibrated midpoint (x30): $2,075,520
  • Optimistic estimate (x60): $4,151,039

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

How many copies has System Shock 2 (1999) sold on Steam?

With 7,611 Steam reviews and a 95% positive rating, we estimate System Shock 2 (1999) has sold between 152,220 and 456,660 copies, with a best estimate of 228,330.

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 x30 that adjusts for the title's age, price tier, genre, and review profile.

How much does Nightdive Studios, Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios earn from System Shock 2 (1999)?

After Steam's tiered platform fee of effectively 30.0%, Nightdive Studios, Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios keeps an estimated $1,452,864 from System Shock 2 (1999)'s gross revenue of $2,075,520.

Here's the breakdown:

  • Gross Revenue: $2,075,520
  • Steam's Fee (30.0%): -$622,656
  • Developer Revenue: $1,452,864

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

What percentage does Steam take from System Shock 2 (1999)?

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 System Shock 2 (1999), with an estimated gross revenue of $2,075,520, this results in an effective rate of 30.0%. Steam keeps approximately $622,656 and Nightdive Studios, Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios receives $1,452,864.

How accurate are these revenue estimates for System Shock 2 (1999)?

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 ($1,383,680 to $4,151,039) to reflect this uncertainty. For the best estimate we combine the Boxleiter range with a calibrated midpoint (x30) and a calibrated ASP of $9.

What would System Shock 2 (1999) earn on Epic Games Store instead?

If System Shock 2 (1999) generated the same gross revenue on the Epic Games Store, Nightdive Studios, Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios would keep approximately $1,946,457 - that's $493,594 more than on Steam.

At this revenue level, Epic's concrete platform fee would be $129,062. 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 $1,452,864.

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 System Shock 2 (1999)?

According to SteamSpy data, players spend an average of 4.9 hours in System Shock 2 (1999), with a median playtime of 1.9 hours. The large gap between average and median suggests a dedicated core community playing well beyond the typical player.