Handheld gaming PCs surpass 6 million sales, with Steam Deck accounting for more than half

Feb 26, 2025

Steam Deck leads handheld PCs with over 3.7M sales out of 6M, revolutionizing gaming.

Handheld gaming PCs surpass 6 million sales, with Steam Deck accounting for more than half

: Valve's Steam Deck, released three years ago, has revolutionized the handheld gaming PC market, capturing over 3.7 million sales out of around six million. IDC estimates report the combined shipments of several models peaked at 2.87 million in 2023. AMD's gaming marketing head praised the market's expansion from nearly zero to six million units in three years. Future growth remains uncertain due to limited marketing and availability globally.

Valve's Steam Deck, marking its third anniversary, has notably transformed the PC gaming landscape by carving out a substantial niche in handheld gaming market. According to IDC estimates reported by The Verge, about six million handheld gaming PCs have been sold since the Steam Deck's launch, with over 3.7 million attributed to the device.

The Steam Deck, alongside competitors like the Asus ROG Ally and MSI Claw, saw shipments peak at 2.87 million units in 2023. However, shipment numbers dipped to 1.49 million the next year, with projections just below two million by 2025, making sustainability of market growth unpredictable.

AMD’s Frank Azor highlighted the rapid market expansion from virtually non-existent to six million units in three years as noteworthy. Still, traditional consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 are not significantly threatened, with differences in business models and market strategies separating handheld PCs from console markets.