Teen Developer’s $200 Game Generates $1.3 Million Before Refunds Hit Hard

In a wild twist of fate, an 18-year-old developer named Michael Major crafted a prank game titled “This Game Costs 200 Dollars,” which initially garnered a staggering $1.3 (approx. Rs 360) million in sales on Steam. However, this success was short-lived as thousands of players quickly returned the game, leaving the actual profit significantly diminished.

This game serves as a sequel to Major’s earlier title, “This Game Costs 10 Dollars.” He created it as a lighthearted joke, never expecting that so many would actually buy it at the maximum price point allowed on Steam. He cheekily described it as “the swindle to end all swindles” on the game’s Steam page, urging curious gamers to give it a shot. To his astonishment, curiosity piqued and players flocked to purchase it.

According to reports, a staggering 6,717 copies were sold, with a whopping 6,705 of those coming from China. Only a handful of sales occurred in the U.S., Hong Kong, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Singapore. Most buyers didn’t even bother to play the game before seeking refunds, with the average gameplay time recorded at just about 10 minutes.

As Major pointed out, it appears many players were purchasing the game solely to claim Steam Points, which they could earn from each purchase, and then refunded the game almost immediately. Steam’s refund policy allows players to return any game within 14 days of purchase if the playtime is under two hours, making it easy for these gamers to exploit the system.

In a surprising turn, Major speculated that his game could inadvertently have been used for money laundering, citing bizarre instances of expensive games on Steam being implicated in such activities. He humorously noted, “I could be on a ‘hit list’ right now,” reflecting on the unexpected seriousness of the situation.

When Major saw the impressive sales figure in his Steam report, he joked that he nearly “died” from shock, quipping that he would’ve quit his job if the earnings had been real. In stark contrast, another indie developer recently celebrated a more genuine success when her game, Tangy TD, earned nearly $32,000 just 30 hours post-launch—a heartwarming moment amidst the chaos of Major’s experience.

Note: PKR figures are approximate, based on a rate of Rs 278.00 per USD. Exchange rates fluctuate — please check the latest dollar rate for exact pricing.