Content creators on the Steam Workshop have earned a collective US$57 million (about RM207 million) since its launch in 2011. This comes from the creation and sale of user made in-game items for Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive; and only those games.
Steam users are able to build all sorts of things for Valve’s games and sell them through the Steam Workshop, which is one of the few ways that allow people to monetize their gaming time. Cosmetic items like hats, weapon skins, character skins, and emoticons are the most popular, although the Workshop also allows for the creation of multiplayer maps and taunts.
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The multi-million dollar payout was distribution among 1,500 contributors in 75 countries. Which means that each individual earn an average of US$38,000 (about RM138,000) in the last four years.
Valve has also announced the first curated Workshops for non-Valve games is now open. Both Dungeon Defenders: Eternity and Chivalry: Medieval Warfare will allow content creators to upload items and earn a little money from them. Naturally, Valve also takes a small cut from any sales made in the Workshops (usually around 10-percent).
Most non-Valve games already have Steam Workshop support, but this is the first time that Steam will be putting user created content into a curated Workshop for monetisation. Which will allow creators to benefit financially from their hard work. There are plans to support other games with the new Workshop in the coming months.
[Source: Steam]
