Intel has finally managed to turn things around on Valve’s platform. According to the latest Steam Hardware Survey, Intel CPUs have seen a small but important recovery in market share among PC gamers, putting an end to a long downward trend.
Intel Regains CPU Market Share on Steam
Intel’s CPU share has reached 56.64%, an increase of 0.25% compared to December. While the gain is modest, it breaks a steady decline that started back in September, when Intel held 58.61% of the market. By the end of 2025, its share had dropped to a low of 56.39%.
At the same time, AMD recorded a slight decline of 0.19%, settling at 43.34%. This comes after a long period of growth driven by the strong success of its Ryzen 9000X3D processors, which had been gaining ground month after month.
What Is Behind Intel’s Recent Recovery?
Several factors may explain this rebound. Price cuts on older platforms such as LGA 1700, along with firmware updates, have helped improve user confidence. Although Intel’s Arrow Lake architecture received criticism at launch due to weak gaming performance, many buyers now seem more willing to consider it thanks to lower prices.
In addition, the market is waiting for the upcoming Arrow Lake Refresh, expected around March or April. This update is rumored to bring higher clock speeds and better overall performance, which could further boost Intel’s position.
It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue in the coming months or if it is only a temporary recovery. We will keep you updated as new Steam data becomes available.
