Valve's Steam Deck sales tumble 82% after price hike

Valve raised the price of its Steam Deck handheld to near $1,000, shifting from the earlier $650‑$700 range. Following the May price increase, weekly sales fell sharply from a 2025 peak of 11,000‑18,000 units to an estimated 1,400‑3,000 units in July 2026, an 82% decline. The device’s ranking on Steam’s global top‑seller list slipped from around fifth place to the 14th position, and overall hardware revenue is projected to be down about 72%.

Analysts attribute the slump to the market’s high price sensitivity and rising competition from similarly priced handhelds such as the ASUS ROG Ally X. They warn that without a pricing adjustment or a new generation product, demand may remain weak. Valve has indicated it will only launch a next‑gen Steam Deck if a significant technological breakthrough occurs, leaving many players awaiting a possible “Steam Deck 2.”