Joke Game Priced at 200 Dollars Rakes In $1.3 Million on Steam Before Thousands of Players Refund It

The developer behind the joke game "This Game Costs 200 Dollars" nearly earned over $1 million before thousands of players refunded it. The creator, 18-year-old Michael Major, launched the game as a playful joke, anticipating no one would actually purchase it due to its prohibitive 200-dollar price tag, which is the highest price point allowed on the Steam platform.

In his game's "About This Game" section, Major described it as "the swindle to end all swindles," encouraging curious players to buy it, a prediction that proved surprisingly accurate.

Despite Major's initial disbelief, approximately 6,717 units of the game were sold, with the majority of buyers hailing from China, followed by small purchases from the US, Hong Kong, Spain, and several other countries. The majority of buyers promptly refunded the game, significantly reducing the projected earnings, leaving Major with a meager $2,045.

Speculating on the buyers' motives, Major suggested they may have been attempting to accumulate Steam Points, which can be redeemed for virtual swag and customization options in the game.

Major also expressed concern that his prank game could potentially be used for money laundering, a theory he entertained but acknowledged as mere speculation. When he discovered the unexpected revenue, Major admitted he would have quit his job if he had truly earned that amount. Conversely, another indie game developer and Twitch streamer experienced a completely different outcome, witnessing a more modest but still impressive $31,942 within just thirty hours after the launch of his tower defense game "Tangy TD." This turnaround in fortunes sparked a viral moment for the game, drawing even more attention to it.