Steam wishlists are the heartbeat of a successful PC game launch. They drive algorithmic visibility, influence festival and media coverage, and give you crucial leverage in conversations with publishers, partners, and investors.
But everyone already knows the basics – set up your Steam page, make a trailer, launch a demo. If you’re here, you’re ready to go beyond that.
Let’s talk about what actually moves the needle.
Yes, being in Steam Next Fest matters. But don’t just show up – show up with a plan.
Smart teams treat Next Fest like a launch event, not just another checkbox.
If you’re launching a multiplayer or Web3-enabled game, Beamable Network Boost can help supercharge discovery. The program amplifies games through coordinated creator outreach, cross-promotions with other network titles, Discord and social pushes, and targeted campaign support—all designed to drive real wishlist activity.
The best part? It’s designed to spotlight games that are building toward launch momentum—not just the biggest names.
👉 Learn more about Beamable Network Boost
Don’t ask players to wishlist – give them a reason to share that they did.
Tactics that work:
You’re not just collecting wishlists – you’re building hype around them.
Wishlists spike with attention. Attention comes from newsworthy moments.
Successful studios treat the pre-launch period like a live service:
You want people checking back in – not just wishlisting and forgetting.
Instead of chasing megastreamers, focus on creator clusters with 20K–100K subs who live in your genre. They’re more accessible, more likely to engage with your Discord, and their audiences are laser-focused. Make it easy:
Steam’s backend matters. Updating your tags, categories, and description copy every few weeks – based on what’s trending – can dramatically improve your placement in “More Like This” carousels and discovery queues.
Example: If you’re seeing a surge in deckbuilders or cozy games, test related tags to reach that browsing audience.
Pro tip: Use third-party tools like SteamDB and Nocturnal to track competitors and trends.
Don’t just build a Discord – activate it.
Treat Discord like a high-conversion landing page that moves people from fans to future players.
Whether you’re hitting 5K or 50K wishlists, use those milestones to reinforce social proof and encourage the next wave. Every celebration becomes a re-engagement opportunity.
Good post formats:
Even better: sync these moments with an update or beat to double the impact.
Wishlists are a byproduct of buzz. You can’t brute force them – but you can earn them by consistently delivering reasons for people to care.
Treat every month before launch like its own campaign. Stack meaningful moments. Track what converts. And amplify with the right partners – whether it’s creators, festivals, or programs like Beamable Network Boost.
Want help driving wishlist momentum?
From creator strategy to pre-launch marketing campaigns, Beamable can help. Let’s make your launch one to watch. Talk to us →