The Steam Deck, Valve’s portable PC, was launched three years ago in February 2022, and despite the many competitors that have appeared, such as the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, it has proven to be a huge sales success.
Valve has never officially disclosed how many units of the Steam Deck have been sold, but a new report sheds some light on this, estimating that around 4 million units have been sold. This figure might be surprising to some, considering the large media buzz around the device.
Steam Deck Outsells All Its Competitors Combined
According to data from research firm IDC (thanks TheVerge), the market for portable PC consoles has reached nearly 6 million units sold over three years. However, the majority of these sales belong to the Steam Deck. In 2022, it was the only console of its kind on the market, and in 2023 and 2024, it accounted for over 50% of total sales. It is estimated that Valve has shipped between 3.7 and 4 million Steam Decks, solidifying its dominance in this new market segment.
While the market’s growth has been slow and Windows-based consoles haven’t taken off at the same level, the Steam Deck’s success is attributed to a combination of key factors. Its SteamOS operating system, which allows users to easily suspend and resume games, its compatibility with Windows games through Proton, its ergonomic controls, and its focus on comfort and accessibility have all helped it surpass other options. Additionally, its price continues to be a crucial advantage. While other options like the ROG Ally X cost over $799, the Steam Deck OLED strikes a balance between performance and battery life, with a price of $569.
Even though current AAA games are demanding more and more power, Valve has made it clear that it won’t release a Steam Deck 2 until it can offer a significant upgrade without compromising battery life. Meanwhile, new competitors continue to emerge, and companies like Intel have said they plan to heavily invest in this market, signaling that it’s a priority for them, meaning they intend to compete with AMD.
