Steam Deck Sales Plummet After Price Hike in May

Sales of the Steam Deck appear to have taken a significant downturn following the price increases implemented in May. The hike, linked to the memory component crisis, has led to substantial rises in the costs of Valve's handheld console, with increases estimated between $240 and $300 compared to previous prices. According to an analysis published by Boiling Steam, a site that monitors hardware sales trends through data on best-selling products on Steam, demand for the Steam Deck has reportedly decreased significantly since the beginning of June.

Analysts noted that the device has dropped from fifth to fourteenth place in the best-selling product rankings. This change could indicate a reduction in weekly sales of up to 82% compared to previous levels. Estimates suggest that the Steam Deck could have shifted from around 11,000-18,000 units sold each week in 2025 to a range between 1,400 and 3,000 weekly units in July 2026. Despite the higher price, the drop in sales would have impacted overall revenue, with a possible decrease nearing 72%.

The declining sales of the Steam Deck could now stabilize. According to the analysis, the situation may remain stable in the short term if competing devices with similar features do not experience price increases. Among these, the ASUS ROG Ally X is mentioned, priced at around $899.99. A potential return of Steam Deck prices to more accessible levels could help revive demand.

In addition to the effects of the price increases, the timing in the product lifecycle must also be considered. The Steam Deck has been on the market for several years now, and some users are already looking at a possible second generation. However, Valve has clarified that it does not intend to launch a Steam Deck 2 until significant hardware improvements are available to justify the transition.

Thus, the slowdown in sales could be attributed to both the new pricing and the natural maturation of the product. Despite this, other devices related to the Steam ecosystem, such as the Steam Machine, continue to maintain high interest even in the presence of higher prices.