The Bus Steam key art
The Bus cover art

Steam revenue analysis

The Bus Steam Revenue & Sales Estimates

TML-Studios · Aerosoft GmbH

$7.7MEst. Gross Revenue

202,151 estimated sales, 74% positive reviews, and $5,375,801.54 potentially retained by the developer after Steam's platform fees.

Simulation74% Positive$39.99

Revenue Overview

$7.7M

Gross Revenue

$5.4M

Developer Revenue

202,151

Est. Copies Sold

$7.7M

Revenue / Year (avg. 1 yr)

$5MLow estimate
$7.7MBest estimate
$14.9MHigh estimate

How the revenue splits

Gross Revenue
$7,679,716
Steam Platform Fee(30.0%)
−$2,303,915
Developer Revenue
$5,375,802

Developer vs. Steam

Developer: 70.0%($5,375,802)Steam: 30.0%($2,303,915)

Tiered Fee Structure

Tier 1 ($0–$10M) (30%)$2,303,915
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

74%positive
6,521Total Reviews
4,826positive (74%)
1,695negative (26%)

Step by step

  1. 1

    Capture Steam review volume as the primary demand signal

    6,521 reviews and a 74% 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 The Bus, we use a midpoint multiplier of ×31 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 $38 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 $7,679,716 in gross revenue into roughly $5,375,802 retained by the developer.

Calibrated inputs for this game

Avg. sale price

$37.99

List price $39.99

Boxleiter multiplier

×31

Range ×20–×60

Effective Steam fee

30.0%

Tiered 30 / 25 / 20%

Revenue estimates for The Bus use the Boxleiter method with a broad range from x20 to x60. For the best estimate we use a calibrated midpoint of x31 and a calibrated average sale price of $38 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: $7,679,716

To developer

$5,375,802

To developer: 70.0%

$5,375,802

Platform fee: 30.0%

$2,303,915

Epic Games Store

Gross revenue baseline: $7,679,716

To developer

$6,878,151

To developer: 89.6%

$6,878,151

Platform fee: 10.4%

$801,566

Epic: 0% on the first $1M in annual per-app revenue, then 12%. Effective here: 10.4%.

GOG

Gross revenue baseline: $7,679,716

To developer

$5,375,802

To developer: 70.0%

$5,375,802

Platform fee: 30.0%

$2,303,915

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

Genre Market Position

Top 67% by revenue in Simulation
67%

Top 67% of Simulation games

by estimated revenue

0%◆ Median100%

40

Top Games Tracked

$17.6M

Median (tracked top games)

$45.4M

Mean (tracked top games)

The Bus ranks in the top 67% 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

23.1h avg6.9h median

23.1h

Average Playtime

6.9h

Median Playtime

12.1h

Recent Activity (2 Weeks)

A median playtime of 6.9h and average of 23.1h suggest a dedicated core community playing this simulation game well beyond the typical player.

Current Activity52% still active

Game Details

Dataset updated: April 18, 2026

DeveloperTML-Studios
PublisherAerosoft GmbH
Release DateMarch 25, 2026
Years on Market1 year
Current Price$39.99
Calibrated Avg. Selling Price$37.99
GenreSimulation
Peak Players164
SteamSpy Owners200,000 .. 500,000

Features

Single-playerMulti-playerCo-opOnline Co-opFull controller supportSteam WorkshopCamera ComfortColor AlternativesCustom Volume ControlsAdjustable DifficultyKeyboard Only OptionMouse Only OptionPlayable without Timed InputSave AnytimeSubtitle OptionsSurround SoundSteam CloudIncludes level editorFamily Sharing

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much has The Bus earned on Steam?

Based on our analysis using the Boxleiter method, we estimate The Bus's total gross revenue on Steam at approximately $7,679,716.

This estimate comes with a confidence range:

  • Conservative estimate (x20): $4,954,656
  • Calibrated midpoint (x31): $7,679,716
  • Optimistic estimate (x60): $14,863,967

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

How many copies has The Bus sold on Steam?

With 6,521 Steam reviews and a 74% positive rating, we estimate The Bus has sold between 130,420 and 391,260 copies, with a best estimate of 202,151.

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 x31 that adjusts for the title's age, price tier, genre, and review profile.

How much does TML-Studios earn from The Bus?

After Steam's tiered platform fee of effectively 30.0%, TML-Studios keeps an estimated $5,375,802 from The Bus's gross revenue of $7,679,716.

Here's the breakdown:

  • Gross Revenue: $7,679,716
  • Steam's Fee (30.0%): -$2,303,915
  • Developer Revenue: $5,375,802

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

What percentage does Steam take from The Bus?

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 The Bus, with an estimated gross revenue of $7,679,716, this results in an effective rate of 30.0%. Steam keeps approximately $2,303,915 and TML-Studios receives $5,375,802.

How accurate are these revenue estimates for The Bus?

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 ($4,954,656 to $14,863,967) to reflect this uncertainty. For the best estimate we combine the Boxleiter range with a calibrated midpoint (x31) and a calibrated ASP of $38.

What would The Bus earn on Epic Games Store instead?

If The Bus generated the same gross revenue on the Epic Games Store, TML-Studios would keep approximately $6,878,151 - that's $1,502,349 more than on Steam.

At this revenue level, Epic's concrete platform fee would be $801,566. 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 $5,375,802.

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 The Bus?

According to SteamSpy data, players spend an average of 23.1 hours in The Bus, with a median playtime of 6.9 hours. The large gap between average and median suggests a dedicated core community playing well beyond the typical player.