Pixel P&L: Steam Hits Record Monthly Revenue in December

Welcome to another Pixel P&L edition. This issue takes 5 minutes to read. If you only have one, here are the 5 most important things:

• Steam hit $1.6 billion in December revenue, marking its best-performing December ever.

• Saudi Arabia consolidates $12 billion in gaming stakes under Savvy Games Group.

• Blackpink launches a gaming gear line with Razer ahead of Hong Kong concerts.

• Former Assassin's Creed head sues Ubisoft for nearly $1 million over alleged constructive dismissal.

• Swiss watchmaker Hamilton releases Resident Evil-themed watches alongside Capcom's Requiem launch.

Let's get into it.

Steam Hits $1.6 Billion in December Revenue, Setting Platform Record

Steam generated $1.6 billion in gross revenue during December 2025, marking the platform's best-performing December in its history, according to Alinea Analytics.

The figure represents a 22.7% increase over December 2024 and surpasses the pandemic-era high of $1.4 billion recorded in December 2020. Over 100 million Steam users contributed to the record month.

Extraction shooter Arc Raiders emerged as December's second-highest revenue generator on the platform. The Embark Studios title sold 1.2 million copies between December 21 and January 4 alone, contributing to total sales of 12 million copies. The game recorded 250,000 sales on Boxing Day, with 3.2 million players active during the period, half of whom played via Steam.

The data suggests sustained growth for Valve's distribution platform despite competition from rivals including Epic Games Store. The strong December performance underscores the continued expansion of PC gaming's commercial footprint.

Saudi Arabia Consolidates $12 Billion Gaming Portfolio Under Savvy Games Group

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is transferring approximately $12 billion in gaming company shares to subsidiary Savvy Games Group, consolidating holdings in Nintendo Co., Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., and other major publishers, according to Bloomberg.

Once complete, Savvy will control roughly 10% stakes in Koei Tecmo Holdings Inc., NCSoft Corp., Nexon Co., and Square Enix Holdings Co., according to company documents reviewed by Bloomberg. The PIF has already transferred 11 million Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. shares via December regulatory filings.

Established in 2021 to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy beyond oil, Savvy operates with $38 billion in capital and has acquired Monopoly Go developer Scopely Inc. and invested in Pokemon Go creator Niantic. 

Savvy will maintain the PIF's passive investment approach and has no involvement in Electronic Arts Inc.'s ongoing acquisition.

⚡️Quick Bytes

Blackpink Launches Gaming Gear Line With Razer in Hong Kong

K-pop group Blackpink will release gaming peripherals through a collaboration with tech company Razer, according to the quartet's agency YG Plus. The "Deadline" tour-themed line includes a keyboard, chair, mouse and mouse pad in black and pink. Products debut at a Hong Kong pop-up store ahead of three Kai Tak Stadium concerts this weekend, with global sales beginning in the second quarter.

Hamilton Releases Resident Evil-Themed Watches Ahead of Game Launch

Swiss watchmaker Hamilton will release two limited-edition timepieces tied to Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem, launching February 27 alongside the game. The Pan Europ and Khaki Field Auto Chrono, each limited to 2,000 pieces, feature black PVD coating and design elements mirroring characters Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy. The collaboration extends Hamilton's gaming partnerships following appearances in Far Cry 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Former Assassin's Creed Head Sues Ubisoft for Nearly $1 Million

Marc-Alexis Côté, who led Assassin's Creed for over a decade, is suing Ubisoft for roughly $935,000 over alleged constructive dismissal, Radio-Canada reports. The lawsuit claims Côté was demoted after Ubisoft established Vantage Studios subsidiary in October 2025, creating a new franchise oversight role based in France. Côté declined alternative positions and requested severance before Ubisoft announced his departure as voluntary.

⚔️Side Quest

🤣Laugh:

📺 Watch: It Takes Two director Josef Fares reveals how Hazelight's "f*ck shit up" mentality and rejection of data-driven decisions created two co-op hits despite industry skepticism. He defends EA's creative freedom, explains the "Friends Pass" origin story, warns AI can't replace vision, and argues "playing it safe is the opposite of safe." Essential viewing on balancing creative integrity with commercial success.

🎮 Play: Farthest Frontier delivers dangerously addictive city-building with deep survival mechanics that nail the "just one more turn" feeling. Watching your settlement evolve from struggling outpost to thriving frontier town is incredibly rewarding. Perfect for strategy fans craving depth and endless replayability, just don't start if you have plans tonight.

📚 Read: Iranian developer Arash Hackimi documents nine days of complete internet blackout during government protests. Unity won't load, Git is inaccessible, team communication is impossible, yet local F2P games see 5x DAU increases as foreign titles go dark. A haunting firsthand account of isolation, resilience, and the human cost of digital disconnection.

💡Did You Know

Blood West sold 200% more copies on Steam after Epic Games gave it away free for a day. The unexpected boost shows how Epic's giveaways can drive massive discoverability, with curious players checking reviews and wishlisting, then buying on their preferred platform later.

📜 Quote of the Day

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