$200 Joke Game Nearly Made a Teenage Dev a Millionaire on Steam

A teenage game developer named Michael Major created a barebones meme game called "This Game Costs 200 Dollars" in just a matter of days, listed it on Steam for the audacious price of $200, and watched in disbelief as it racked up nearly $1.4 million in gross sales. The premise was as simple as the price tag was absurd: the game does exactly what it says on the tin, costs $200, doesn't look particularly impressive, and exists largely as a joke. Yet somehow, a surprising number of players were willing to part with their money to be in on the gag.

The dream came crashing back to earth when refunds began flooding in, as many buyers had second thoughts after seeing what they actually purchased. After Valve processed the wave of returns, Major ultimately walked away with just over $2,000, a fraction of the seven-figure sum that had briefly appeared within reach. Still, for a teenager's gag project built on a shoestring budget, clearing $2,000 in profit is far from nothing. The episode has quickly become one of the more bizarre and entertaining chapters in recent Steam history, highlighting both the unpredictable nature of viral moments on Valve's platform and the willingness of the internet to throw money at a good bit.

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