One of Steam’s most popular games is actually losing the devs money

Despite racking up 194,000 peak players and taking fourth place on Steam’s Most Played charts, Bongo Cat doesn’t make money for its creators.

The cat-themed clicker game launched back on March 5, 2025, and has quickly joined the likes of Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG, as one of the most popular games on Valve’s platform. 

However, unlike these entries, Bongo Cat isn’t really a game. There’s no music, no sound effects, and no real gameplay. Instead, the cute cat simply sits inside your screen and taps its little paws whenever you press a key or click your mouse.

While certain cosmetics can be purchased for your feline friend, the game is completely free to play, and hats can be earned without paying. Despite its popularity, Marcel Zurawka, the creator and CEO of Irox Games, says the viral background app “is actually losing us money in the end.”

So what is the point of Bongo Cat?

During an interview with Eurogamer, Zurawka explained that the studio made just $2,000 after Steam’s cut. That rose slightly to $4,050 in April, the month Bongo Cat blew up online, but revenue has since dropped to $2,800 by late June, not even enough to pay one developer.

“Some people said, ‘Oh, you’re now rich.’ That’s bullsh*t,” Zurawka said. “I didn’t make it for the money at all.” So, what did the devs make Bongo Cat for? Well, Zurawka built Bongo Cat to experiment with Steam’s community marketplace, an area where people can sell cosmetic items for real money. 

Irox Games

The original prototype started life as a mining game, where a stone is constantly being drilled as you click. However, one of the devs suggested replacing the stone with a cat, and the meme-inspired Bongo Cat was born.

As for why Bongo Cat exists, the answer is simple. It’s a marketing tool. The devs are now using their cute cat game to advertise their next game, Oku. And no, it’s not another idle clicker. In fact, when players wishlist Oku on Steam, they’ll receive Bongo Cat items. 

So, while Bongo Cat may be operating at a loss, Zurawka notes that his idle game is “an insane marketing tool,” which is getting people to learn more about their next game. Now, I wonder how many hats I’ve unlocked while writing this article?