Valve Updates Steam Top Sellers Chart After Technical Error Amid Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement

Valve Updates Steam Top Sellers Chart After Technical Error Amid Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement In January 2025, the gaming industry witnessed a remarkable convergence of hardware news and technical mishaps, as excitement around the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement was swiftly followed by confusion on Valve’s official Steam top sellers chart.

This incident highlights how closely industry observers track sales data and the ongoing rivalry between portable gaming giants like Valve's Steam Deck and Nintendo's hybrid consoles. The episode began when Valve, developer of the digital platform Steam and popular gaming hardware like the Steam Deck, released its weekly top sellers chart for the period of January 14th to January 21st.

As initially reported by Liam Dawe, owner of GamingOnLinux, the Steam Deck seemingly experienced a dramatic drop in rankings, plummeting from its typical top three position down to 47th place.

The sharp decline coincided with the global reveal of Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch 2, raising questions about the possible impact of Nintendo’s new hardware announcement on Valve’s portable PC sales. However, it was soon discovered that the data published in Steam’s charts was the result of a technical error.

After Dawe pointed out that several top-selling games and hardware had inexplicably disappeared from the weekly rankings, he reached out directly to Valve for clarification.

In response, Valve acknowledged the issue and promptly updated the charts.

According to the corrected figures, the Steam Deck was actually in fourth place among global bestsellers during that week—not the previously reported 47th. Dawe summarized the situation, noting that, after some anomalies in the top sellers list were spotted, he contacted Valve and the company responded by amending the data.

The revised figures confirm that Steam Deck sales remained strong during the week that Nintendo captured the industry's attention with the Switch 2 announcement. The erroneous chart briefly fueled speculation about the effect of Nintendo's hybrid console on the growing market for portable gaming PCs, but the corrected data paints a much steadier picture for Valve's hardware.

The Steam Deck maintains its reputation as a leading portable gaming device for PC enthusiasts, with its appeal rooted in the ability to play an expansive library of Steam games on the go. Meanwhile, anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 continues to soar.

The original Nintendo Switch has sold over 146 million units worldwide since its 2017 debut, solidifying Nintendo’s status as a dominant force in handheld gaming.

The Switch 2 reveal sent ripples through the market, including an all-time high for Nintendo’s share price.

Recent reports also highlight possible innovations stemming from the PC space, such as references to an optical sensor on the new Joy-Con and features reminiscent of mouse controls—showcasing Nintendo’s intent to blend console and PC gaming experiences. In summary, the brief misreporting of Steam Deck’s sales underscores the increasing competition and media scrutiny in the booming portable gaming sector.

As the market awaits Nintendo’s full unveiling of the Switch 2 and Valve continues to push the boundaries of handheld PC gaming, gamers worldwide—especially those tuned in via Nintendo Directs or following eShop updates—can expect even fiercer innovation in the years ahead.

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