4w ago

What people miss about Steam Deck's "loss" to Nintendo

It’s silly to compare Switch 2 sales to Steam Deck sales.

The Switch 2 is a locked-down, vertically integrated platform. There are no ROG Switch 2s. No Lenovo Switch 2s. No Switch laptops or tower PCs with discrete GPUs. If you want to play Mario Kart World, your only option is to buy a Switch 2. Period.

Steam Deck, by contrast, isn’t a platform. It’s just one hardware option—one entry point into the sprawling, open ecosystem known as PC gaming.

Every year, around 245 million PCs are shipped globally. If even 20–25% of those are gaming-focused, that’s 49–61 million gaming PCs annually. Steam Deck is a sliver of that. So of course it won’t outsell a console that’s the only gateway to a major IP.

But that’s exactly the point.

PC gaming is too decentralized for any single device to dominate. The last “PC” that did was the Commodore 64, which sold 12.5–17 million units over 12 years because it was a self-contained platform, unlike modern Windows, Mac, or Linux machines.

That the Steam Deck has sold 4 million units despite competing with every other gaming PC in existence is remarkable. It didn’t just sell—it legitimized a category. Handheld PC gaming is now a thing. That’s why Lenovo, ASUS, and MSI have followed. Even Microsoft is getting in, optimizing Windows for handhelds—something they would never have done if the Steam Deck didn't hold their feet to the fire.

So no, Steam Deck didn’t outsell the Switch 2. It didn’t need to.

It won by changing the landscape.

202 comments

If you want to play Mario Kart World, your only option is to buy a Switch 2. Period.
For now.
- Yuup. Nintendo's biggest advantage has always been their intellectual property, and even that hasn't always saved them. glances at the Wii U
  
  Fuck $80 mario you can get Garfield Kart for $5
  
  Forget the wii u. The switch is really emulated on potatoes. I know, i have one and played Mario Wonder on it.
  I'm looking forward to emulating the switch 2 games on my Deck.
  
  They're also much better for local party games. That's essentially what my Switch has become.
- Yep give it a year or so. The emulator will be up and running.
  
  I hope so but switch 1 emulation took like 3 years to get it into a good state
- Sure, if it doesn't bother someone to wait 3-5 years. It's no Problem. You can say this too all kind of Games. You don't want to pay 100$ for GTA VI? No Problem, just wait 5 years and it will be 20$ on sale.
  
  Gamers do be a patient bunch sometimes
  I'm still playing AOE 2/3, civ v and endless space after all these years

Has either company "lost" anything? They both seems to be raking in money quite healthily.
- True no one needs to fight for either company.
- A very good point. :)

I'll emulate Nintendo games till the day I die because fuck Nintendo and their greed.
- I won't even pirate their games
- They make great games and they're a super anti-consumer company. Perfect combination for going out of your way to pirate their games.
  
  Meh, personally I haven't enjoyed a Nintendo game since the GameCube. Every new game they release feels like a rehash of the same shit they've been shoveling down our throats since the Wii. Nintendo forgot how to innovate.
- It's always morally acceptable to pirate Nintendo games.

What I like about the deck is I bought it and I instantly already owned >1000 games for it where a good majority of those are playable out of the box.
So ya, I ain't paying $120 CAD per game. Fuck that.
Also my controllers basically all work for it so I don't need to buy these overpriced joycons again for a new system.
Already have webcams if I cared for a silly camera that streams at 2FPS.
It's unfortunate that theres been a lot more attention for optimization from some developers for the switch 2 though, not much we can do about that. Some games I own the deck is screaming and barely handling it and apparently the switch 2 runs it no problem.
- I ain’t paying $120 CAD per game.
  You are correct. If you want Tears of the Kingdom, it is $130 ($115 plus tax). I am stunned that this is the launch price of Switch 2 games. How high will they go in the future?
  The Switch 2 makes even the new ROG Ally X seem like a good deal (assuming it is around $1000 CAD), since you can just play any of your Xbox Play Anywhere games that you have acquired on sale, or have access to via Game Pass. You don't even need a subscription to access online play, and it has free cloud saves.
  
  So a high end PC is cheaper than a switch + 10 games, and the PC has a loooot of games already

What kind of idiots are comparing the two? They're different things with entirely different markets. There was never a battle to be had lol
- It’s funny you say this, because for 500 bucks I am actually debating between the two as my Christmas present to myself this year.
  I think I’d prefer a Steam Deck for no particular reason. 🏴‍☠️
  
  They are competitors on a personal level as many people only have the time or money to fit one of them into their lives. But by that definition cycling or golfing is also a competitor and nobody would write an article about how bikes outsold the Steam Deck.
  
  If you're comparing them, as in you don't have a strong preference for one vs the other, the Steam Deck wins hands down. You get access to a much larger library of games, repairability is awesome, and you can use it like a PC, because it is one.
  The only reasonable reasons to get a Switch 2 are:
  play first party titles - even when emulators come out, the performance probably won't be there on the Steam Deck
  it's for someone who wants a very simple experience, and they're willing to pay more
  the Steam Deck is too big for you - if you have smaller hands, it could be uncomfortable
  But I don't think most people will really be deciding between the two, they target very different markets.
  I'll probably end up getting the Switch 2, and I have a n OG Switch and a Steam Deck.
  
  Do what I’m doing. Get the Steam deck and about when that time comes around that you want to buy a switch 2 it’ll have more games out and most likely different colors to pick from ^_
- There's many of them, and quite a few on this thread
- what are you talking about? they share the same handheld console market. most people are not gonna buy more than 1 handheld.
  
  I'm owning a Ayaneo Flip DS and a Switch 2... There are a lot of reasons why some one would buy two handhelds. Especially a PC Handheld.

Console wars stopped being cool years ago. Everyone has their preferences and favorites, no need to shit on someone's fun because you think yours is better.
- Steamdeck also isn't a console anyway, it's a handheld PC.
  
  it plays like a console and repairs like a pc.
- There's no hate for Nintendo here, just explaining why Steam Deck is different.
  
  Sorry, should've clarified that this isn't directed towards you, OP! Just at a lot of the other comments in here who are acting like someone else's decision to buy an expensive gadget is a personal insult to them.
- Its unfair to call it a "console war" when one is a classic locked down console and another is a general handheld computer. This also means there are bigger societal stakes in this argument than just "which corporate flavor you like more" because one empowers people and the other does the exact opposite.
  So no, "console wars" here are very much cool.
  
  Competition is good. If the Switch didn't exist then I don't think we would've gotten the Steam Deck.
- PC G*mers aren't known for being with the times.

Steam Deck is the winner, They don't even advertise.

Actually you will be able to play switch two games on PC. It's only a matter of time so no your only option isn't just switch two. It's patience 😜
- Welcome aboard !patientgamers@sh.itjust.works

The funniest thing is that Nintendo buyers are not even part of this conversation LMAO 🤣
- In a sense, this is also the point. They are different devices targeting different markets.

I've generally seen purchasing a Steam Deck as an informed decision. But most people are very nostalgic (can't blame them, SNES to Wii Zeldas and Metroids were amazing) and have uncontrollable FOMO, which Nintendo keeps on milking even when their software and hardware is noticeably much worse than it's competitors'. If anyone also wants to know how Nintendo currently uses the money they earn, here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n025Gxn5GEM No wonder they're less worried about wasting money on legal battles. No trace of the good old Nintendo.
For Nintendo fans that may get triggered by this, don't. Just own it. Spending more on something worse doesn't mean you can't enjoy it.
- But most people are very nostalgic (can’t blame them, SNES to Wii Zeldas and Metroids were amazing) and have uncontrollable FOMO, which Nintendo keeps on milking even when their software and hardware is noticeably much worse than it’s competitors’.
  This reads like someone who never played any of the switch titles. It's not simply nostalgia. The switch titles were objectively good despite lackluster hardware. The switch lasted for almost a decade and is still playable today. People are buying switch 2 to be able to play the Nintendo exclusives.
  It's true that the hardware is largely lackluster, but especially in the case of the first party titles, and in general overall, the lackluster hardware just doesn't prevent the games from looking and running great. Nintendo invests in developers capable of running large, complex games on somewhat modest hardware.
  
  Got my hands on the first Switch model and it's available games on it's release date. I've played Nintendo games all my life. I just weigh the pros and cons of every option and am not ashamed to say Nintendo products and services aren't a good deal right now. It doesn't mean I can't appreciate the artistry and optimization efforts of development teams (Genyo Takeda did wonderful things at Nintendo until he retired, for instance), it means I carefully choose which hoops I jump through to purchase, play and keep the games I love.
  
  I have played them, they are ok. But I would be extremely disappointed if I spent that much money and that is all I got.
- This is such a wild take. « I buy the steam deck because I am informed and smart, they buy the switch 2 because they’re nostalgic impulsive morons ».
  Has it ever occurred to you that not everybody is you, and people have different tastes ? Some gamers want to play the latest COD, others are Final Fantasy super fan, and others want to play Zelda and Mario. Most people even just play on a smartphone! (Disgusting, I know).
  Your lack of basic awareness of what an individual is is astonishing. May I never meet and have to talk to someone like you again.
  
  I think you're missing the point.
  The steam deck is still relatively niche and unknown compared to a switch.
  The namesake and brand recognition for nintendo completely dwarfs that of the steam deck.
  More people are going to buy a switch on impulse and brandname alone so buying a steam deck is almost always going to be an informed decision as in it won't be much of an impulse purchase.
  
  What's most common doesn't aply to everyone, just to most. But your reasoning didn't favor the point you were trying to make, and pushed the notion that I'm disgusted at anyone playing on a smartphone (I play on mine too, so no). So yeah, just as you said, even if some people buy a Switch with other reasons in mind, most will because they want to stick to where their Zeldas and Marios are. Some may even get triggered whenever someone posts info about how the Switch and Switch 2 won't get you the best bang for your buck and therefore might not be the most well informed purchases you can make for your gaming needs.
  
  One way to get offended and misinterpret a sentence. Lol no one wants to talk to you anyways lil bro.
  Edit: of course you drive a Tesla
- I actually think that the Steam Deck is popular enough to be the easy thing to get into PC gaming. Jennifer English (actress of Shadowheart and Maelle) got one after becoming a voting BAFTA member in order to evaluate PC games. And although I think she would care about software freedom she has no idea that it is even a thing that exists.
  A Steam Deck was as much an informed decision for her as getting a PlayStation 5 to play Baldur's Gate 3. So mostly none.
  
  True. Someone else also pointed out that Nintendo's brand casts a huge shadow over lesser known products like the Deck, which is also true. Anyone new to gaming that doesn't take their time to figure out which handheld will be cheaper and more feature rich will either get a Switch, a Switch 2 or one of those fake Switch consoles sold for under $50.

The fact that the Nintendos are locked down, family friendly and with a reputation of good production quality (similar to Disney), are also important points for non-nerdy parents and casual gamers who don't want to navigate the ocean of PC gaming and its risks.
- good production quality... *looks at workbench with 12 cubbies of drifting joycons queued for unofficial repair
  
  As you can see, I said "reputation". I hate how little they innovate while still selling at premium, but similar to Disney, it is enough for the casual mass.
- Their new premium price point is definitely going to put a dent in their family sales, though. That's uncharted territory for them.
  
  Meh, it amortizes over time. Switch 1 lasted 10 years
  Switch 2 will probably be the same, buy the games now, play for 10 years sounds like a deal to the lowest common denominator in gaming

No shame to anyone who bought a switch 2. My partner got one during pre-sales and is incredibly happy to have gotten one, and I feel so happy for him that he gets to have some joy in his life with it. I wish you the same joy.
But I just can't get into it. I didn't grow up with nintendo so the properties really don't mean much to me. And now, I just don't think I can swallow paying hundreds of dollars to start, then another hundred dollars to get games that seemingly play the same way as they did in the last release, plus a yearly subscription for online play. You may not see what you purchased the same way, and I'm glad that it's meaningful to you even if I can't find the same meaning in it -- it's good that there exists something for everyone's niche.
I don't see why this needs to be a competition. Are there really people out there who were about to get a steam deck but decided not to in favour of a switch 2? I feel like switch owners are well aware that it's a Nintendo machine and theyre not gonna be playing a lot of their favourite out-of-franchise games on it. That's what they expect and thats what they'll likely get.
- I DID grow up with Nintendo. The first gaming thing that wasn't a DOS computer with asteroids and commander keen on it was a NES. Then an SNES. Then an N64. A few months after the N64 we got a Sega Genesis, and a PS1.
  All that said?
  ......fuck Nintendo. Switch 1 games play at a higher resolution and better frame rate ON MY PHONE. I refused to buy a switch, and there's no chance in hell I'll get a switch 2. The fact that they say if they "detect" cheating or that your S2 is jailbroken they reserve the right, and built in the ability to, brick your device. Fuck them, get fucked, no fucking chance they're getting a single cent, pence, fucking whatever out of me. Fuck yourselves well and truly to fuck! 👍🖕👍
  Rant over 🥰
- Also didn't grow up with any Nintendo stuff. Play in the games at a friend's house and it's like, alright. If you spent £5 on it. But the games are crazy expensive.

I stopped buying consoles and moved pretty much exclusively to Steam because it gives me many more options. Thankfully, I don't think that's changing anytime soon. Consoles are great for some people, but I need more flexibility. I sometimes wish I could (legally) play Nintendo first party games, but it's really not that big of a deal.
- Yep, last console I bought was an XB1. I really only use it for playing 4K discs and for couch co-op.
  I don't foresee buying another console unless I have a really good reason to.
- It is always morally correct to pirate Nintendo games.

There is no value in defending a billion dollar company from another billion dollar company. Just accept Nintendo is more popular and live your life ❤️
- What company do you think I'm defending?
  
  Valve?

I loved my steam deck, but it was too chunky for me and certainly for my kid.
My compromise is Anbernic type devices. Long battery life, better form factor, lots of ported games too.

Playing with a amiga as a kid when I was at friends and got to play Nintendo I always felt like an outsider.. But I didn't realise how lucky I am that it was like that. I was exposed to so many more games, and got to tinker. Got to see many crack intros that was mesmerising to me as a kid. Soon enough I got into coding because of it.. And guess if that was useful later. I'm never going to think buying a walled garden device is ok, sends the wrong message to your kids and hampers their development. Don't take the easy way out.
- Fuck yeah, the Amiga was an amazing gaming machine. We had cracked copies of damn near everything. Wings, Lemmings, Lost Vikings, Monkey Island, Leisure Suit Larry, Blood Money, Menace, The Killing Game Show, Woody's World, It Came From the Desert, Bubble Bobble, Elvira, Out of this World... hit after goddamn hit.
  Shit, I might need to reinstall WinUAE if that's still a thing.

In 1999, the SEGA Dreamcast was the fastest selling video game console when it launched. In 24 hours, it sold a little over 225k units (which was massive for the tiny gamer population of 1999). This earned it the Guinness World Record for Most Revenue Generated in the Entertainment Industry in 24 Hours.
Console sales at launch literally don't matter.
Also, I wonder how many of those were sold to scalpers that plan on returning them if they cannot sell them?
EDIT: For reference, the PlayStation 1 sold 300k consoles in Japan only when it launched, but not in 24 hours, that 300k is for the entire launch month of December 1994, per Sony's own official business data.

I hadn't even thought about it until you brought it up. Kind of disappointed in people jumping on this like flies on shit but like... it's 2025, so bigger things to be upset about.
In any case, apples and oranges. And PSA, if you need a Switch 2, grab em on the rebound. There'll be used ones, likely hackable in 6 months and none of that goes to Nintendo. Don't forget what their legal department has done in the past few years.

So no, Steam Deck didn’t outsell the Switch 2. It didn’t need to.
I don't disagree with the sentiment. I would still consider the Steam Deck a "failure" if it couldn't move enough units to justify its production cost, but it looks like they're still churning them out, so... eh, it's not great but its fine.
I would argue that merely comparing generic PC sales to Switch sales also misses the mark. At the very least, you'd focus on unique Steam installs or Active Steam Accounts if you're really interested in counting the success of Steam relative to Nintendo.
Even then, what you're really competing with isn't "SteamDeck sales v. Switch sales". I'd say its "SteamDeck sales per $1 advertising spent v. ..." Given that Nintendo spent around $730M in advertising last year and Valve spent under $100M, it seems that Nintendo has to spend roughly $50/unit to move a Switch relative to Valve coming in closer to $40/unit.
It's very difficult to compare popularity under two wildly divergent marketing strategies.
- But I don't feel that Steam alone accounts for PC gaming.
  Even on my Steam Deck, I use GOG, Epic, and itch.io quite regularly.
  
  But I don’t feel that Steam alone accounts for PC gaming.
  If we're putting the SteamDeck against Nintendo, I'd say the natural comparison is Steam exclusives against Nintendo exclusives.
  Even on my Steam Deck, I use GOG, Epic, and itch.io quite regularly.
  Sure. Because it is functionally just a computer with a Valve-branded Linux distro. But there are PC games ported to Mobile. I'm not going to count all Android phones to the "PC" side of the aisle just because I can install Balatro on my OnePlus.
  The whole reason the Steam Deck exists is to compete as a portable full sized hand-held console comparable to the Switch. If you're not talking about portable consoles, you're not really talking apples-to-apples. Anyone crammed into the coach end on an airplane can tell you the quality of life difference between a gaming laptop and a hand-held.

I love my Steam Decks (LCD & OLED), and as far as handhelds, won't buy any more until SD2. I'd much rather see the Deckard released before SD2 to be honest, though my Index headset might be fine, the controllers are kind of fubar. I'll support Linux hardware over anything Microsoft, or closed platforms.

Also, for what its worth, the OLED Decks literally sold out today, as in, Valve doesn't currently have any more to sell in the US.
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/06/supply-chain-issues-are-making-the-steam-deck-oled-go-out-of-stock/
Also also... I realize this is a silly comparison, but the Switch 2 has not outsold all variants of the Deck, yet.
Its at about 3.5 million, Steam Deck is at about 4.5 million since 2022.
Also x3, the Switch 2 is apparently already sold out as well, as in no more units available at US retailers.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/11/nintendo-switch-console-record-sales.html
- Wild the Switch 2 has nearly caught up to the Deck in less than a week.
  
  Not surprising. The Deck has always been niche and is just one way to play PC games out of many, many other options.
- Oh, wow, I knew the most expensive one sold out a week or so ago, but didn't know the middle tier one did, too. It can't possibly be a coincidence that this happened when the Switch 2 launched when they've all been in stock for a long time now. I know I got my LCD Steam Deck right after seeing the Switch 2 reveal. The continued enshittification of the walled gardens in the gaming industry has finally made me start the transition to PC gaming as a main rather than secondary way to play games.

There is a reason why i call all these handheld gaming pcs as decks or gaming decks.

Great text. Thanks for writing it. Fully agree.

It's very likely that the Switch 2 will far outsell all other PC handhelds combined. And that is very much a loss. Not just to Valve, not just to PC gamers, but to everyone.
- Not going to say why?
  
  All the reasons listed in OP
- You must lived an incredibly charmed and comfortable life.
  
  ...well that's an interesting (bad) presumption.

...ok? Cool you're here on Lemmy, I guess, GabeN. Welcome!
- Tim Sweeny! Is that you!?

Lol what comical copium.
They are both handheld gaming devices. To claim otherwise is nothing more than an ideological feature that only matters to 2% of thr market.
- Not really copium. OP makes a great point. It's like comparing Xbox sales to the sales of a specific pre-built PC. The pre-built PC could never compete, but all PC sales over a given period likely outnumber Xbox sales significantly.
  I don't own either, and probably never will, but IMO, you are the one who is coping.
  
  Pure copium.
  They are both handheld gaming devices. Consumers do not care about anything else, just wait until the xbox handheld eats even more of those sales.

There are millions upon millions of Mario, Link, and Pokemon fans.
There are not millions and millions of... what's the killer Steam Deck game again? Oh, right, there isn't one.
If Valve came out with Half Life 3, made it Steam exclusive and a pack in with the Deck, then it would start putting up Nintendo numbers.
- You're right, the best part of PC gaming is that it's always inclusive, never exclusive. Thanks for the reminder
  
  Pc, where games are locked to launchers…? And OS…?
  They have their own flaws, so that’s not even a good counterpoint. They are FAR from inclusive, and far more exclusive in a lot of cases. HL3 would likely be a Steam exclusive, to think otherwise is just ignoring reality.
- that anyone would even have the thought of "killer steam deck game" amazes me. It's just a pc. You can run literally every game in existence that doesn't require a top of the line nvidia card as a minimum, have rootkit anti cheat, or is still exclusive to yet un-emulated console.
  
  There are limits as to what runs well on the Deck and what does not run well.
  When I got my Steam Deck I was asking around to see what the "must have" game is with the caveat that I already have a Switch, Xbox Series X and PS5. So what's a must have game on the Deck that I can't already play?
  . . .
  The answer I got back was "Well, emulation, piracy, and streaming from the Xbox and PS5."
  There really isn't a killer app on the Deck, and that's fine. I bought mine to better explore the Steam ecosystem as I had no gaming PC at the time.
- Exclusives are a bad thing. The fact that you're asking to be fed the same regurgitated ip slop gives them the idea that maybe, $80 games are underpriced. Maybe they can bump that up to a base $90, $100 for physical. Nintendo keeps exclusives out of greed, worse than even Sony. There shouldn't be exclusives. Ridiculous.
  
  Exclusives are good for the company making them, but they are anti-consumer. I'd be open to buying Switch games if they were available on PC. But I'm not buying a whole separate piece of hardware (complete with various accessories) so that I can play whatever exclusives that I'm interested in. I'll just pass on it.
  
  Exclusives are a good thing if you want to justify a $400 hardware purchase. :) "What can I play here that I can't play elsewhere?"
  If you can play it elsewhere, why blow $400?
- Do you mean the millions of available games on PC? That easily far outweighs the switch.
  Oh wait, and you can play switch games on PC too.
  What was your point again?
  
  That's exactly the problem... there are thousands of games but nothing stands out the way Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon do on a Nintendo platform.
  I still look from time to time on my Deck. I picked up Borderlands 2 the other day because it was free.
  But what I usually see browsing are a bunch of games I can already play on other systems, plus porn games, anime games, and anime porn games.
  There really isn't one game that stands out on the Deck.
  Vampire Survivors?
  macOS, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
  En Garde? PC Exclusive, decent game, but limited and a little boring if I'm being honest.
  https://youtu.be/MfUmgmMp964
- There are actually thousands of games that run on Steam Deck with no additional configuration that aren't even available on Switch, and conservatively, hundreds of those are extremely popular. Plus a lot of Switch's library is on Steam Deck, where it tends to be a better version of the game for one reason or another, not the least of which is free online play.
  
  That's exactly the problem... there are thousands of games but nothing stands out the way Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon do on a Nintendo platform.
  I still look from time to time on my Deck. I picked up Borderlands 2 the other day because it was free.
  But what I usually see browsing are a bunch of games I can already play on other systems, plus porn games, anime games, and anime porn games.
  There really isn't one game that stands out on the Deck.
  Vampire Survivors?
  macOS, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
  En Garde? PC Exclusive, decent game, but limited and a little boring if I'm being honest.
  https://youtu.be/MfUmgmMp964
- The killer Steam Deck game is absolute choice. Oddly enough you can play many Switch games and older on the Deck.
- Pretty great that they sold 4m of this device without any exclusive tbh. It's not even their main income.
- Very doubtful tbh. You can look at HL: Alyx as an example. It sold well I'm sure, but not Nintendo level. As much as people like to belly ache about VR being too hard to get into, it's truly no more expensive than a Steam Deck if you actually bother to take more than 2 seconds to legitimately look into it.
  I played Alyx on a mobile 1060 and a $300 headset and while it wasn't top of the line, it was still perfectly playable. I imagine most gamers these days have at least that, but Alyx absolutely did not sell like hot cakes. And I doubt the Steam Deck would either, even for HL3.
  
  I don't think it would help SD sales much, either (and everyone would just play HL3 modded to run on regular PCs anyway if that happened), but Alyx is a bad comparison because the barrier to entry for VR is much higher than pretty much any other platform. It's not only expensive, but requires a large amount of room, which not everyone has to dedicate exclusively to games.

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