Valve gifts Steam developers expensive chocolate for high game sales

Valve continues its unusual tradition of rewarding game developers who achieve high sales on Steam. In early November 2026, Reddit users once again began posting photos of gift boxes of chocolates and cards from the platform's team. Such packages are sent to select studios, although Valve does not publish official participation conditions for the program.

According to estimates from the gaming community, gifts may be sent to developers whose projects generate about $800,000–$900,000 in annual revenue. For the most successful games, more expensive sets are provided, with recipients reporting costs reaching several hundred dollars. However, the revenue size and chocolate cost remain approximate benchmarks rather than officially established conditions.

Steam Developers Talk About Gifts from Valve

New photos of gift sets appeared in the Steam community on Reddit on November 8. Discussion participants reported that Valve sends festive chocolates to game developers who achieve certain commercial results. Among the recipients are studios outside the US, including representatives of the European gaming industry.

This practice has existed for several years and has been unofficially named the Chocolate Tier. It is used to denote the sales level after which a developer can expect a gift from Valve. However, the expression itself is not related to Steam's official payment or commission system.

In December 2025, game promotion consultant Chris Zukowski studied this tradition based on developer reports. According to his observations, less expensive gifts could be received by studios with gross revenue of about $900,000, and more expensive ones upon reaching $1 million. However, the study was based on a small sample, so these values cannot be considered precise thresholds.

How Much the Chocolate Sets Cost

According to developers, Valve sends gift boxes of premium chocolates, costing approximately $100 to $300. The contents of the packages depend on the region and, presumably, the commercial results of the game. However, the company does not disclose the cost of the gifts and does not publish the rules for selecting recipients.

Among the chocolate manufacturers mentioned is the French brand La Maison du Chocolat, founded in Paris in 1977. Developers also reported receiving sets from the American company Fran's Chocolates. Differences between gifts may be related to the delivery location and the availability of certain products.

Some community members note that the cost of the set does not always correspond to the presumed revenue level. Discussions include reports of gifts to developers who earned less than the mentioned amounts. Therefore, it is impossible to definitively determine which indicators Valve considers when distributing chocolate based on available evidence.

How the Cost of Gifts Relates to Steam's Commission

The standard Steam commission for games with revenue up to $10 million is 30%. For example, if a project generates $800,000 in revenue, the platform's conditional share before additional adjustments is $240,000. Against this background, chocolate costing $150 is equivalent to about 0.06% of the calculated commission.

However, the actual payment system is more complex than a simple 70 to 30 revenue distribution. According to Steamworks documentation, taxes, purchase returns, and other adjustments are considered in the calculation. Therefore, the given comparison only shows the relative scale of the gift and does not reflect Valve's actual profit from a specific game.

For large projects, a reduced commission applies. Valve retains 25% of revenue exceeding $10 million, and after reaching $50 million, the rate for subsequent sales drops to 20%. This system applies to additional revenue beyond the respective thresholds, not to all previously made sales.

Why Gifts Became a Tradition Among Developers

Despite the relatively small cost of chocolate compared to the commercial results of games, developers perceive such packages as a sign of attention from the platform. For example, the creators of the game Peak from Aggro Crab studio previously mentioned that they observed for a long time how gifts from Valve were received by the neighboring team Mega Crit, known for Slay the Spire. After Peak's success, Aggro Crab employees also received a festive set.

Such stories have made the Chocolate Tier an informal symbol of commercial success among independent developers. For small teams, receiving a gift can become additional confirmation that their game has achieved significant sales on Steam. However, the reward itself remains symbolic and does not imply changes in the financial terms of working with the platform.

Thus, Valve continues to send festive chocolates to select successful developers, maintaining a tradition that has existed for several years. However, the presumed revenue thresholds and gift costs are primarily based on community testimony. The company has not yet disclosed official rules for receiving such sets.