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Since its launch, the Steam Deck has become one of the most popular portable devices for PC gamers. In recent months, however, the situation has begun to change noticeably. Significant price increases linked to rising memory costs have likely caused interest in the hardware to fall sharply. The latest analyses suggest a very large drop in sales just a few weeks after the price changes. Valve does not publish official figures, but available estimates show a clear trend. Everything indicates that the Steam Deck is currently facing one of the toughest periods since its debut.
Price increases led to a sharp fall in sales
According to an analysis prepared by the Boiling Steam site, Steam Deck sales fell significantly after the May price increases. The authors of the report base their calculations on data from the list of best-selling products on the Steam platform. Estimates suggest the device dropped from fifth to fourteenth place in the best-sellers ranking. That change could represent as much as an 82 per cent fall in weekly sales. It would mean sales falling from roughly 11–18 thousand devices per week in 2025 to just 1.4–3 thousand units in July 2026. Despite higher prices, the manufacturer did not record an increase in revenues. On the contrary, analysts estimate that revenue from Steam Deck sales may have fallen by around 72 per cent. This demonstrates how strongly the price rises influenced customers’ decisions.
Valve may feel the effects of competition and the device approaching the end of its lifecycle
Experts note that weaker sales are influenced not only by the device's higher price. The Steam Deck has been on the market for several years, so interest may naturally have cooled. Many users are also awaiting the Steam Deck 2, although Valve has repeatedly stressed that the new generation will only arrive when a significant performance increase is possible. Another challenge is competition from other handheld gaming PCs, such as the ASUS ROG Ally X. Analysts predict that unless rival devices rise in price or Valve cuts Steam Deck prices, demand may remain at the current low level. It is worth remembering that the figures presented are only estimates based on an analysis of sales on the Steam platform. Valve has still not disclosed official results. The coming months will show whether the manufacturer decides to change its pricing strategy or speeds up work on a successor to its portable device.
Latest estimates suggest that price increases for the Steam Deck may have significantly reduced interest in the device. The drop in sales and revenues shows that the handheld gaming PC market is becoming increasingly demanding. Valve now faces a choice whether to stick to its current strategy or try to win back customers by adjusting prices or introducing a new generation of hardware.
source: techpowerup
