Top Steam Game Functioning as Highly Effective Marketing Tool, Despite Financially Draining Developers
A Quirky Kitty Stacking Cash but Not Profits: Bongo Cat's Dilemma
Meet the internet's newest feline sensation, Bongo Cat, a chubby critter who's taken Steam by storm, sitting pretty at its fourth most popular game. The game's novelty lies in its simplicity—press a key, and Bongo Cat earns a point, accumulating hats to flaunt. But, it seems our feline friend is in a spot of financial trouble, with its daily 160,000-plus player base failing to generate enough dough, according to Irox Games CEO Marcel Zurawka.
Contrary to expectation, games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Apex Legends lose out to this simple key-pressing sensation. Yet, Zurawka confesses to Eurogamer that Bongo Cat isn't even covering Irox Games' development costs. With a mere $12,650 amassed in its first three and a half months, Bongo Cat pales in comparison to a developer's yearly salary.
However, Zurawka isn't too concerned about the cat's financial woes. After all, Bongo Cat was developed in a flash and serves a more significant purpose. It's not just a game—it's an "insane marketing tool" for Irox Games' next project: Oku. A watercolor adventure reminiscent of Okami's aesthetics and Flower's movement flow, Oku promises to be Irox Games' main event.
Spreading the word about Oku, Zurawka says, is relatively straightforward—simply follow and wishlist Oku, and you'll earn a free hat for Bongo Cat. This marketing strategy has garnered 50,000 wishlists and follows for Oku, pushing it up to around 750 on Steam's Most Wishlisted chart.
All's well that ends well for Irox Games, but the situation presents a daunting picture for the legion attempting to break onto Steam's prolific stage daily.
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While specific numerical details and marketing mechanics between Bongo Cat and Oku remain elusive, our research reveals that free-to-play titles like Bongo Cat often struggle to turn a profit due to limited revenue generation, a common challenge in the gaming industry. Bongo Cat's role extends beyond simple entertainment; it functions as a strategic promotional tool to create awareness for Oku and leverage the existing player base to foster anticipation for its launch.
- Despite its popularity on Steam, Bongo Cat, the key-pressing game featuring a chubby feline, isn't generating enough income to cover its development costs, according to Irox Games CEO Marcel Zurawka.
- Games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Apex Legends have been outperformed by this simple indie game, yet they are not generating profits for Irox Games.
- Bongo Cat serves as more than just a game for Irox Games; it's an "insane marketing tool" to promote their upcoming project, Oku, a watercolor adventure game.
- Gamers can earn a free hat for Bongo Cat by following and wishlisting Oku on Steam, a marketing strategy that has amassed 50,000 wishlists and follows for Oku, pushing it up to around 750 on Steam's Most Wishlisted chart.
- If you're interested in fresh gaming news, don't miss out on the new games of 2025 and beyond.
- Our research suggests that free-to-play titles often grapple with turning a profit due to limited revenue generation, posing a challenge in the gaming industry, as seen with the financial struggles of Bongo Cat.
