Video Game Royalty & Recoupment Calculator
Model your publishing deal before you sign. Plug in the advance, the split, and the recoupment structure — see exactly when royalties start flowing to you.
Advances are usually recoupable (81% of deals). Many deals also recoup these costs. Check your contract:
Your own spend on salaries (including paying yourself), contractors, equipment, and software. This is different from the publisher’s recoupable costs above. It comes out of your pocket (often out of the advance), so it’s subtracted from your take to show your actual profit.
Every net dollar pays down the advance first. The split only starts once the publisher is made whole.
You receive $0 until the publisher has fully recouped. Used in roughly 42% of deals.
Before you sign
The calculator shows you the math. We negotiate the deal.
Recoupment structure, net revenue definitions, and audit rights decide whether a publishing deal pays you or just pays the publisher. Book a consultation and we'll review your term sheet, flag the traps, and negotiate the terms that matter. The fee credits toward the work if you hire us.
This calculator is a free educational estimating tool, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Real publishing deals vary widely — net revenue definitions, recoupment terms, and platform fees all depend on your specific contract. Have a lawyer review the actual agreement before you sign.