Sorry to tell you, but it’s exactly what’s going to happen on Steam too.
Before the next Olympic games happen, Steam users gonna have plenty of $1 and free games to choose from and the only way you’ll be able to make money is by designing games as a service + marketing investment + player retention investments + in-app transactions.
Most games will need 1~3 years of services provided before they see any significant revenue.
The old retail model that indies insist going into is going to break a lot of hearts and shatter many dreams, saved a small number of rare exceptions.
Just like the big companies, to compete in old retail model, indies need a very unique gem. An instantly identifiable hit that can be ported to Consoles and Mobile as well as Pc… Anything less than that and all you’ll get from Steam nowadays is money lost developing whatever game it is.