Age-defying sales miracle. Five years after launch, Icarus sold nearly 1 million copies in three weeks during Steam’s Winter Sale (Dec 18, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026). RocketWerkz founder Dean Hall revealed 984K base game units moved at $3.50 (90% off $35 MSRP) alongside 243K DLC sales.
Launched December 2021 by DayZ creator Dean Hall, Icarus pioneered timed PvE survival missions on alien planets. Players crash-land with eight-hour extraction windows, forcing rapid resource gathering before orbital storms wipe progress. No permanent bases, pure session gameplay.
What Sparked the Explosion
Deepest discount ever transformed visibility:
- Price: $35 → $3.50 (90% off)
- Peak Players: 44,120 (Dec 2025) vs 9,076 (Nov)
- Total Sold: 3.5M+ lifetime Steam
- Ranking: #4 worldwide PC sales Winter Sale
Concurrent players hit launch-month highs. Russia, Brazil, US led sales, proving broad appeal beyond Western core.
Icarus Gameplay Core
Session survival differentiates from sandbox giants:
| Feature | Icarus | Ark/Rust |
|---|---|---|
| Missions | Timed drops (8hrs) | Persistent worlds |
| Progression | Extract inventory | Base building |
| PvP | PvE focus | Full PvP |
| Scope | Co-op sessions | Months-long |
| Content | 3 maps + expansions | Endless grind |
Three expansions added maps rivaling original Olympus size. Boss campaigns span all zones, demanding multiple playthroughs. Pets bundle provides cosmetic companions.
RocketWerkz Longevity Strategy
Dean Hall’s studio thrived through evolution:
- Regular prospecting missions (weekly)
- Expansion roadmap (fourth incoming)
- Steam sale timing mastery
- Console ports planned
Winter Sale #4 global ranking beat franchises despite age. Smaller scope enabled sustained updates versus bloated sandbox rivals suffering feature creep.
Genre Context 2026
Survival fatigue hit hard:
- Sons of the Forest peaked early
- Valheim sequel struggles
- Enshrouded lost momentum
- Palworld shifted genres
Icarus session model proved immune. No base raiding grief, pure cooperative progression. Five-year relevance rare in multiplayer survival.
Sales Breakdown
- Base Game: 984K ($3.44M revenue)
- DLC Total: 243K units
- Lifetime: 3.5M+ Steam
- Peak Revenue: Winter Sale period
Future Roadmap
- Console release (PS5, Xbox)
- Fourth expansion imminent
- Steam sales continue (Detective Fest Jan 12-19)
FAQs
Why did Icarus surge now?
90% discount ($3.50) during Steam Winter Sale. First time such aggressive pricing five years post-launch.
Is it single-player viable?
Solo prospecting works fine. AI companions fill co-op gaps for casual players.
Console version confirmed?
Yes – PS5, Xbox Series ports development active per RocketWerkz roadmap.
Any base building?
Temporary shelters only. Core loop extracts materials before session ends, no permanent structures.
Free-to-play?
No – full $35 purchase required. DLC expansions optional ($10-15 each).
Still getting updates?
Active – weekly missions, fourth expansion imminent, five-year support proves commitment.
Worth buying at full price?
Session model suits casual play better than grindy sandboxes. Frequent sales make $35 entry risky.
Conclusion
Icarus defies survival genre mortality. Five-year relevance through session focus, steady content, sale timing mastery proves smaller scope beats bloated ambition. Nearly 1M copies at $3.50 validates accessibility over prestige pricing. RocketWerkz models sustainable multiplayer success – extract value, repeat drops. Console ports await as session survival proves remarkably evergreen.