Steam Deck Sales Reach 4 Million Units as Nintendo Switch Maintains Handheld Dominance
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Published on: February 26, 2025
Description
Valve's Steam Deck has marked a significant milestone as it celebrates its third anniversary, crossing approximately 4 million units sold since its debut in February 2022.
Released exclusively through Valve's storefront, the Steam Deck has redefined accessible PC gaming on a handheld device, garnering praise from enthusiasts and industry observers.
However, in the landscape of dedicated gaming hardware, Nintendo's Switch remains the clear leader, having sold a staggering 151 million units since its launch.
Market research firm IDC recently provided updated sales estimates for handheld PC gaming devices, stating that, collectively, around 6 million such units—including the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, and Asus ROG Ally—have been sold worldwide.
These figures are based on supply chain data and spending forecasts, as reported by The Verge and Push Square.
It's important to note that these numbers do not include other China-manufactured handhelds like the Ayaneo or GPD.
Despite growing competition, the Steam Deck commands a dominant presence, accounting for over half of all handheld PC units sold.
While impressive within the niche handheld gaming PC market, the Steam Deck’s sales still trail far behind the Nintendo Switch, reinforcing the Switch's status as the benchmark for handheld consoles.
One key factor influencing these numbers is the limited retail availability of the Steam Deck—it is only sold officially via Valve's online store, with any units found elsewhere likely being second-hand or refurbished.
In contrast, the Nintendo Switch benefits from extensive global distribution, available through both online and brick-and-mortar retailers, which makes it easily accessible to a broader audience.
The convenience of in-store purchasing extends to other major competitors as well, such as PlayStation and Xbox consoles, further separating traditional console sales from the more niche-focused handheld PCs.
Looking ahead, anticipation surrounds the release of Nintendo's next hardware iteration, widely referred to as the Switch 2.
Nintendo has commented on its preparedness to meet consumer demand at launch, aiming to avoid supply shortages and scalper issues encountered with the original Switch.
Projections from various industry analysts predict that if Nintendo can deliver sufficient inventory, the Switch 2 could achieve sales between 15 and 17 million units in 2025—substantially more than the forecasted 2 million units for all handheld PCs in the same period.
IDC's latest data indicates that handheld PC sales dipped below 1.5 million units in the most recent cycle, down from the previous year's combined 2.87 million units.
The research group anticipates a rebound to near 2 million units in the coming year, suggesting steady, albeit incremental, growth for the segment.
It's worth noting that Steam Deck's 4 million lifetime sales now position it at roughly a third of the PlayStation Vita's figures and ahead of other notable competitors like the Nokia N-Gage.
Although it lags behind Sega's Game Gear, which reached 10 million units, the Steam Deck is securing its own legacy in the evolving handheld market.
While some gamers enjoy the flexibility of owning both a Switch and a Steam Deck to access exclusive titles on each platform—such as Hades II on Steam Deck and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Switch—the coming years are poised to be transformative.
With new hardware on the horizon and ongoing innovations across the industry, the battle for handheld supremacy is expected to intensify, further shaping the future of portable gaming.
