$70 Games on Deep Steam Discounts Make Patient Gaming More Rewarding
▼ Summary
– PC gaming sales frequently discount new games by 20-30% within months, making it cost-effective to wait rather than buy at launch.
– The “Patient Gamers” subreddit, with over 750,000 members, focuses on discussing games at least a year old to avoid hype and high prices.
– Publishers aggressively use FOMO tactics like pre-order bonuses, but day-one sales remain critical for game success.
– Some recent games, like Helldivers 2 and Clair Obscur, launched below the $60-$70 standard, proving lower prices can still drive success.
– Steam sales allow newcomers to build affordable libraries of older hits, challenging the value of buying new releases at full price.
Waiting for deep Steam discounts on new games isn’t just smart budgeting, it’s becoming a cultural shift in how players engage with the hobby. The platform’s frequent sales make it harder to justify paying full price, especially when titles like Avowed drop from $70 to under $47 within months. This trend isn’t new: data from 2016 shows many games hit 50% off within half a year of release.
Take Assassin’s Creed Shadows or Oblivion Remastered, both already discounted just weeks after launch. For players willing to wait, the savings add up quickly. This mindset has fueled the rise of communities like the Patient Gamers subreddit, where discussions focus exclusively on games at least a year old. With over 750,000 members, the group thrives on revisiting titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Control long after their hype cycles fade, proving there’s little downside to delaying purchases.
Publishers, however, are doubling down on FOMO tactics, from pre-order bonuses to early access perks. Launch windows remain critical for developers, with sales data often dictating a game’s future support. Yet some studios are bucking the trend: Helldivers 2 succeeded at $40, while Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Dune: Awakening launched at $50, well below the industry’s creeping $70 standard. These exceptions suggest flexibility might pay off more than aggressive pricing.
The competition isn’t just other AAA releases. Indie hits like Peak ($8) and remasters like Oblivion ($50) offer compelling alternatives, while subscription services like Game Pass undermine the value of buying new games outright. Add Steam’s ever-growing backlog of discounted classics, Civilization 6 currently costs $3, and the case for patience grows stronger.
As recommendation algorithms prioritize personalized discovery over chronological feeds, the idea of “new” is evolving. For a growing segment of players, the best games aren’t the ones just released, they’re the ones finally getting their due, often at a fraction of the cost.
(Source: PCGAMER)
