Steam is a global heavyweight; a distribution service that is so integral to PC gaming that I can’t imagine a world without it at this stage. Everyone around the globe uses Valve’s program, but there are some markets that are undeniably more important than others. So who is sucking the Steam servers dry every single day?
Valve has launched a new map that shows every country’s data usage over the past seven days, as well as the average download speed based on top ISP ratings. It’s very easy to tell that Africa falls under the lowest consuming continents, with the indescribably “Other” tag even outdoing us in the speed department.
South Africa, however, is quite admirable. We download just under 100TB per seven days, which is mind-blowing considering our average speed doesn’t exceed 2Mbps. Unsurprisingly though, we make up an insignificant share in Steam’s global standings, accounting for just 0.1% of the globe’s total usage. The United States, in comparison, uses 15.5PB every seven days – Nearly three years worth of South African downloads in one week.
It also explains why local servers for online games really don’t phase developers abroad. Sure, Steam (and Valve in general) has been great, granting local servers for Steam downloads as well as for games such as Dota 2. Local servers on PC in general aren’t an issue, but with out market being a drop in the ocean in comparison to other nations, it’s no wonder we get glanced over.
Still, we’re better than Antarctica. That’s something at least.
Last Updated: January 21, 2015
Neji
January 21, 2015 at 17:21
“Local servers on PC in gerbil” – Yes I too, like to gerbil.
konfab aka derp
January 21, 2015 at 17:38
gerbilly: I find PC games rather plad these days
konfab aka derp
January 21, 2015 at 17:41
LOL, I have personally downloaded more from Steam this month that the whole of Chad
Personal achievement reached.
Geoff Murphy
January 21, 2015 at 18:38
My only contribution would be updating steam. I’m not sure if that counts.
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 21, 2015 at 18:48
HAH! SUCK IT ANTARCTICA!
Sovereign
January 21, 2015 at 19:14
USA USA USA!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 21, 2015 at 19:24
In your face Antarctica! South Africa number 1 South Africa number 1!!
Hammersteyn
January 22, 2015 at 07:35
We’re on 100 TB but China is on 800 TB? Chinese pirates are pirating
Quo Vadis?
January 22, 2015 at 07:50
There’s good news, and there’s bad news. The good news is (if you’re an eternal optimist and blissfully ignorant), we download more than Iran, Jordan, The West Bank, Turkmenistan Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The bad news is, we aren’t doing even half of what Israel does (218Tb), a country the size of Kruger Park :/