On Steam, cooperative releases have pushed past $7 billion in 2025, up from $3.5 billion in 2019 and $6 billion in 2022. Overlapping audiences for ARC Raiders, Phasmophobia, and Valheim underline how community-first play sits at the heart of co-op.

The rise of co-op mirrors a broader shift in player behavior: teaming up, sharing progress, and enjoying the game together are edging out pure head-to-head competition.

This year, cooperative titles have moved to the forefront on Steam, with gross sales exceeding $7 billion. What once lived on the margins now stands as a core pillar of the business.

Recent estimates show notable crossover among ARC Raiders, Phasmophobia, Lethal Company, and Helldivers 2, with overlaps approaching half of their player bases. More than 40% of ARC Raiders players also flock to community-driven hits like Valheim, Dead by Daylight, and Repo.

Why it matters: beyond raw revenue, the figures point to a cultural pivot. In 2025, the draw is playing together, building communities, and finding fun through cooperation rather than competition.

7 Billion Co-Op Game

New data from Alinea Analytics indicates that co-op games on Steam have collectively generated more than $7 billion in gross revenue.

In 2019, the segment brought in nearly $3.5 billion, rising to almost $6 billion in 2022, and reaching an all-time high of $7 billion in 2025.

ARC Raiders, Split Fiction, Lethal Company, and Helldivers 2 Played a Huge Role in the Revenue

Marquee 2025 releases included Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, REPO, ARC Raiders, and Borderlands 4 – together accounting for a substantial share of spending. With a market this large, co-op is here to stay.

The 2025 surge is more than a financial headline. Games like ARC Raiders, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Borderlands 4 show how collaboration, shared progression, and social systems now define modern gaming culture.

One more takeaway: co-op is likely to endure as long as games do, since cooperative layers fit both straightforward single-player designs and full multiplayer projects.

Source: tech4gamers