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📊Steam Check 30- Your daily Steam briefing, updated every day. We provide a comprehensive look at real-time concurrent users, global and Korean top-selling charts, daily news, new releases, and updates.
Hound13's action RPG 'Dragon Sword: Awakening' and Team Tetrapod's mystery adventure 'Stepper Retro: Psychic Detective Quest' have both landed in the top-selling ranks following their Steam releases.
Following issues with unpaid minimum guarantees after its live service launch, the publishing contract for 'Dragon Sword: Awakening' was terminated, leading to a standalone package release. Although the launch was delayed due to final Steam review processes, the game started with 450k wishlists. The decision to pivot from a free-to-play model to a premium package seems to have paid off in early sales figures, with the game hitting #1 on the domestic chart and #4 on the global chart on its first day.
'Stepper Retro' is the second installment in the series, inheriting the document-based deduction system of its predecessor, 'Stepper Case,' while adding a 30-hour scenario, Japanese voice acting, and Spine animation. Unlike the previous title, this game launched simultaneously on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Given that its crowdfunding campaigns on Tumblbug and Japan's Campfire exceeded expectations, confirming a solid domestic and international fan base, its strong initial ranking was largely anticipated. It reached #9 in sales in Korea and #6 in Japan.
Both games are domestic titles that developers brought to the global market independently, either without a publisher or after parting ways with one. Their presence at the top of the Steam charts highlights the scale and purchasing power of the Korean gaming market.
ISSUE | Today's News
■ Steam Update | Steam Wishlist Now Categorized
Valve has updated the Steam wishlist and gifting features. Users can now organize wishlisted games into categories, assign categories directly from store pages, and filter their lists by specific classifications. Notifications can also be toggled by category, and games with demos are now marked with a dedicated button, allowing users to receive alerts when demos are released.
Sharing methods have also changed; instead of sharing the entire list, users can now send links to specific categories or filtered views. These links remain valid even for private wishlists and can be revoked at any time. Regarding gifting, guest checkout—previously limited to hardware and gift cards—has been expanded to include game purchases, allowing users to buy games without a Steam account and send them directly via email. For email-based gifts, unclaimed items are automatically refunded after 30 days, and both the sender and recipient must be in the same country. Additionally, users can now gift games directly to friends in other regions, with Steam automatically calculating the price based on the recipient's region at checkout.
NEW | Upcoming Releases & Updates
■ Release | Ruby Knight
Cup Dog Games' 2D boss rush action title 'Ruby Knight' has been released on Steam. It is a dark fantasy game where Ruby, a princess who escaped the Scarlet Kingdom, embarks on a journey of revenge against the witch and blood-stained entities that have overtaken her home. The core combat design requires players to maintain a 'focus' state to identify weaknesses and land precise stabs, as standard attacks alone cannot defeat enemies. The game uses charming pixel art to depict the desolate landscape of the kingdom, creating a unique atmosphere.
■ Release | Hololive Dreams
'Hololive Dreams,' co-developed by Cover and CyberAgent subsidiary QualiArts, officially launched on Steam on the 23rd alongside iOS and Android versions. As the first official smartphone game from Hololive Production, it is a rhythm game featuring over 50 talents and 150 songs, combined with theme park management and minigames. While it surpassed 1.5 million pre-registrations and supports cross-play between mobile and Steam, the Steam version has limitations: rhythm game scores are not reflected in rankings, and some paid items cannot be purchased.
■ Release | Shift at Midnight
The co-op horror game 'Shift at Midnight' climbed into the top-selling ranks following its release on the 22nd. Set in a 1990s rural American convenience store, up to three players must work the night shift, stocking shelves and cleaning while identifying doppelgangers hidden among the customers. The only ways to identify them are by asking five questions per customer, checking IDs, and observing their behavior. If even one doppelganger is missed, they return as a monster later that night, shifting the gameplay into a survival phase where players must board up doors, set traps, and hide. With proximity voice chatting used to amplify the horror, the game has been generating buzz among streamers since its demo phase. As a title following in the footsteps of social horror games like 'Lethal Company,' the key will be how long it can maintain its initial momentum.
