Full Breakdown
The $200 Prank: How a Joke Game Briefly Hit $1.3 Million
8/5/2026, 4:27:08 PM
Background and Developer Intent
Eighteen-year-old Michael Major released *This Game Costs 200 Dollars* as a sequel to his earlier title *This Game Costs 10 Dollars*. Major described the project as a simple joke, expecting that the maximum Steam price of $200 would deter purchases.
Sales, Refunds, and Steam Mechanics
According to Major’s Steam Works Sales and Activations Report, 6,717 copies were sold, generating $1,345,650 in gross revenue. The overwhelming majority—6,705 purchases—originated in China; only four were bought in the United States, three in Hong Kong, two in Spain, and one each in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Singapore. Most buyers refunded the purchase, invoking Steam’s policy that allows refunds within 14 days and under two hours of playtime. The average playtime for those who did play was roughly 10 minutes. Refunds reduced the net earnings to $2,045.
Developer’s Reactions and Speculations
Major told WMUR-TV that the $1.3 million figure was overwhelming and joked he would have quit his job if the revenue were real. He speculated that some purchasers were motivated by Steam Points—rewards earned with each purchase that can be exchanged for profile items—suggesting buyers might have bought the game solely to claim points and then refunded it. Major also raised the possibility that the high-price game could be used for money-laundering, noting he had heard of similar cases but had no concrete evidence.
Broader Implications for Platform Policies
The episode highlights how Steam’s refund system and points program can be leveraged in ways developers may not anticipate. While the game’s novelty generated viral attention, the rapid refunds demonstrate the platform’s consumer protections effectively curtailing long-term profit from such pricing experiments. The incident may prompt further discussion among developers and Valve about balancing pricing freedom with safeguards against exploitative purchase-refund cycles.
