Technology · Software & cloud · published 2026-10-11 · via Tom's Hardware

Indie dev reveals how $560K in Steam sales shrank to a modest annual income

The co-founder of Northend Games shared a breakdown showing that two Steam titles brought in about $560,000 from 135,000 sales over five years. After refunds, Steam's 30% fee, and publisher cuts, the two-person team received roughly $134,000, leaving the co-creator with about $15,000 annually. A high refund rate from Chinese customers was a major reason the final payout was much smaller.

Expanded Detail

Omer Develioğlu, co-founder of Northend Games, said the gross came from Northend Tower Defense and Deepstone Rift (Early Access). China accounted for 53.3% of sales, and refunds there reached 22%, far above the 10–15% range cited in the piece. Steam’s 30% cut took $127,000, while a 5% U.S. withholding tax applied after he moved from Iraq to Thailand, which has a tax treaty with the U.S.

An Asian publisher handled PR, distribution, and marketing across China, Japan, and South Korea, taking $115,000. That left $172,000 before local taxes. Develioğlu did not clarify the publisher’s exact cut, possibly due to an NDA, and the final personal result was about $15,000 annually, with him still driving a 2012 Mazda.

Count: First paragraph: Omer(1) Develioğlu(2), co-founder(3) of(4) Northend(5) Games(6), said(7) the(8) gross(9) came(10) from(11) Northend(12) Tower(13) Defense(14) and(15) Deepstone(16) Rift(17) (Early(18) Access)(19). China(20) accounted(21) for(22) 53.3%(23) of(24) sales(25), and(26) refunds(27) there(28) reached(29) 22%(30), far(31) above(32) the(33) 10–15%(34) range(35) cited(36) in(37) the(38) piece(39). Steam’s(40) 30%(41) cut(42) took(43) $127,000(44), while(45) a(46) 5%(47) U.S.(48) withholding(49) tax(50) applied(51) after(52) he(53) moved(54) from(55) Iraq(56) to(57) Thailand(58), which(59) has(60) a(61) tax(62) treaty(63) with(64) the(65) U.S.(66). Good.

Second: An(1) Asian(2) publisher(3) handled(4) PR(5), distribution(6), and(7) marketing(8) across(9) Chin

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Two Steam games generated $560,000 across 135,000 sales, but the co-creator only took home $15,000 annually.” Browse more stories.