If you ask a non-gamer about steam, they’ll describe boiling water or the stuff that comes out of an iron. If you ask a gamer about Steam, there’s only one thing that comes to mind – cheap and accessible enjoyment.

With over 40 million steam accounts, there were more people signed in to Steam during last year’s holiday sales than there were people watching the streamed royal wedding. It is a huge success for valve and a resource universally used by gamers worldwide. How did they get here and where are they going?

That’s the question answered in the infographic below. Distribution models come and go, but Valve seems to have a sustainable winner on their hands. Click to enlarge.

 
Created by: Video Game Design Schools