Mobile Suit Gundam
Steam Meme Game Almost Makes Teen a Millionaire
Eighteen-year-old Michael Major sees unexpected success with his comedic game.
Eighteen-year-old Michael Major sees unexpected success with his comedic game.
In simple terms, a humorous video game created by eighteen-year-old Michael Major has generated significant revenue, reaching approximately $1.3 million soon after its release on Steam. This unexpected financial success comes despite a majority of buyers opting for refunds, leaving Major with a surprising total of $2,000. His game, titled "This Game Costs $200," was designed as a joke, and its allure lies in its absurdity rather than traditional gaming merits.
What happened is that Major had previously published a lesser-known game called "This Game Costs $10" that didn't garner much attention. However, Major decided to push the envelope further by releasing the follow-up game at the maximum allowable price of $200. Upon release, it featured a similarly simplistic design and tongue-in-cheek descriptions that challenged players to spend money on what he called a "psychological thriller" without any substance.
According to Polygon, Major’s intent was never to create a serious game; rather, it served as a comedic experiment. Players engaging with this game were largely aware it was a gag, yet thousands participated in the joke, leading to an unexpected spike in sales. However, the majority of transactions were quickly refunded, as many purchasers never even opened the game.
When the financials were tallied, Major discovered that while he initially earned $1.3 million, the bulk of that income stemmed from players eager to get Steam points or potentially engage in other dubious activities, such as money laundering. Major speculated on this in his statement to WMUR, responding to how actual gameplay features might have played a role in the revenue breakdown.
Despite refunds, the sheer number of purchases led Major to still pocket $2,000. Astonishingly, it meant that at least ten players were willing to part with $200 purely for the novelty. This creates a curious intersection of gaming, humor, and unexpected serious undertones in sales behavior within digital marketplaces.
The ripple effect of Major's satirical title has attracted a range of player reactions. Some users took to Steam’s review section, highlighting unexpected features such as multiple endings, which Major didn't initially include in his marketing but seemed to have emerged from user explorations of the game. One reviewer remarked on their surprise at the game's depth despite intending to leave a troll review. Although this player refunded the game, they expressed interest in Major’s future projects, suggesting they might consider buying at a lower price.
According to Major, the absurdity of his game has expanded his audience significantly. Responses from players have included laughter, curiosity, and hints for future projects. Major himself has stated that future games from him will not see a price drop, as doing so would undermine the humor he aims to deliver and further strengthen a unique relationship with his audience.
The success of Major's title has broader implications for indie game developers. It highlights the potential for humor and unexpected concepts to create viral success in an industry often dominated by large-budget productions. This incident encourages indie creators to explore unique angles and to leverage social commentary or humor in their projects. Given the mixed reactions to Major’s approach, it also opens discussions about consumer protection in a digital storefront like Steam.
Going forward, Major's success and the response to his game could be instrumental for both the indie gaming community and platforms like Steam. His modest revenue underscores the potential for creativity to match serious revenue—even if primarily through gimmickry. Future projects from Major will likely be closely watched, as audiences are curious about how he will capitalize on this newfound attention.
To catch up on more significant indie titles, consider reading Every Major Video Game Releasing in August 2026, Explained or explore Big Walk Emerges as Unlikely 2026 Game of the Year Contender.
This unusual story resonates as an example of how internet culture and gaming are evolving, encouraging a fresh perspective on audience engagement in the video game industry.
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