Bongo Cat Dev Says Game Loses Money But Boosts Business
▼ Summary
– Bongo Cat is currently the 5th most-played game on Steam but generates minimal revenue, averaging only $3,000 a month for its developer, Irox Games.
– Marcel Zurawka, CEO of Irox Games, states that Bongo Cat is not profitable and likely loses money, with roughly 50% of its 170,000 players being bots.
– Bongo Cat is a simple desktop pet game where users earn hats for typing, and its marketplace items attract bot activity due to low-value trading.
– Zurawka views Bongo Cat as a powerful free marketing tool for Irox Games, despite its financial losses, as it boosts visibility for future projects.
– Irox Games’ next project, Oku, is a vibes-based exploration game where players write haiku, inspired by Ōkami, but Zurawka laments the need for prior success to gain attention.
Bongo Cat may be one of Steam’s most-played games, but its developers aren’t seeing the financial rewards you might expect. Despite ranking among platform giants like Counter-Strike and Elden Ring, the quirky desktop pet simulator operates at a loss, yet its creators couldn’t be happier with the unexpected benefits.
Marcel Zurawka, CEO of Irox Games, recently revealed that Bongo Cat generates only around $3,000 monthly, barely enough to cover development costs. With over 170,000 concurrent players, half are suspected to be bots farming Steam marketplace items, tiny digital hats for the cat that trade for pennies. “It’s not paying a developer’s salary,” Zurawka admitted. “Financially, we’re in the red.”
Originally a meme created by artists StrayRogue and DitzyFlama, Bongo Cat became a viral sensation after Irox Games adapted it into a simple interactive experience. Players place the animated cat on their screen, watching it tap along as they type. The game’s charm lies in its absurd simplicity, but its real value isn’t in revenue, it’s in unprecedented exposure.
Zurawka sees Bongo Cat as a powerful marketing tool, far outweighing its monetary shortcomings. The game has put Irox on the map, sparking curiosity about their next project, Oku, a serene exploration title where players wander as a haiku-writing monk in a world inspired by Ōkami. “People are asking, ‘What’s next?’” Zurawka noted. “That’s priceless.”
Still, there’s irony in the situation. Like Aggro Crab’s surprise hit Going Under, which overshadowed more labor-intensive projects, Bongo Cat’s success highlights an industry quirk: breakout virality often trumps traditional marketing. “Before, we knocked on doors,” Zurawka mused. “Now, opportunities come to us. It’s frustrating that success breeds success.”
Despite the financial paradox, Zurawka remains committed to keeping Bongo Cat free, teasing a mysterious future update. For now, the game’s true legacy isn’t profit, it’s proving that sometimes, a silly cat with bongos can open more doors than a carefully crafted pitch.
(Source: PCGAMER)
