Steam Deck Sales Reportedly Drop 82% After Valve Price Increase

Valve's recent Steam Deck price increase may be having a much bigger impact than expected. According to an analysis published by Boiling Steam, weekly sales of the popular handheld gaming PC have dropped dramatically since the new pricing took effect.

The report estimates that Steam Deck sales have fallen by around 82%, while weekly revenue has also declined significantly. Although Valve has not officially confirmed these figures, the analysis suggests that higher prices have slowed demand for the handheld.

Before the price increase, the Steam Deck was reportedly selling between 11,000 and 18,000 units per week. After Valve adjusted pricing, weekly sales are estimated to have dropped to just 1,400 to 3,000 units. That represents one of the biggest changes in the device's sales performance since its launch.

The report also estimates that Steam Deck's weekly revenue has fallen by around 72%, showing that the higher selling price has not been enough to offset the sharp decline in unit sales.

Boiling Steam also notes that the Steam Deck has lost ground on the official Steam Best Sellers chart. The handheld was regularly among Steam's top-selling products, but the recent price increase appears to have reduced buyer interest. A lower position on the chart usually reflects weaker sales compared to other hardware, games, and digital content available on Steam.

While the Steam Deck remains one of the most popular handheld gaming PCs available, the report suggests that consumers are highly sensitive to price changes in this growing market.

At the time of writing, Valve has not publicly responded to Boiling Steam's analysis or confirmed the reported sales figures. Since the estimates come from third-party analysis rather than official sales data, the exact impact of the price increase remains unclear. Even so, the report highlights how pricing decisions can quickly influence consumer demand, especially as competition in the handheld gaming market continues to grow.

The brand that started a revolution in the portable gaming scene with the Steam Deck now sits in a complicated situation. Well, but don't get me wrong. Valve does not seem to be really concerned, as the Store keeps bringing in revenue. The Steam Deck was a true phenomenon that created a whole new genre with handheld gaming PCs and Steam OS. This success brought back the idea of Steam Machine. However, the current crisis in the memory segment is pushing the prices of all Steam consoles to the sky. The brand is not going in a direction that would cause it to lose money, unlike the traditional console makers. While rumors point to the arrival of a Steam Deck 2, it may still take more time. Valve tends to wait for a good price, before pushing its new console in a difficult market.