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.
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.
The funniest thing is that Nintendo buyers are not even part of this conversation LMAO 🤣
Steam Deck is the winner, They don’t even advertise.
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.
BotW and TotK were both really good. Don’t mistake this as me saying “Nintendo is good actually”, more like a broken clock is right twice a day sort of statement.
BotW and TotK are by far the worst Zelda games ever made. What’s the point of having a huge open world if there’s nothing to do in it? Plus there are no real dungeons and there’s barely a plot. It honestly blows my mind that people enjoy those games. Hell, TotK was so lazily slapped together that they couldn’t even bother creating a new map.
I remember when botw came out and some time after it was cracked and you could play it in 4k 60. So i did and i was just like meh. Do i really want to collect all the same shrines in a boring world?
Personally I thought botw was pretty mid overall. The world is so empty and there’s no reason to really ever fight anything for the most part. The weapons breaking so easily just cements that. Haven’t played the second tho.
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.
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.
Steamdeck also isn’t a console anyway, it’s a handheld 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.
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.
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?
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.
If we’re putting the SteamDeck against Nintendo, I’d say the natural comparison is Steam exclusives against Nintendo exclusives.
I disagree. It would be more accurate to say:
If we’re putting the Steam Deck against the Switch 2, the natural comparison is between Switch 1/2 compatible games, without jailbreak, versus any game that works on the Steam Deck hardware be it Linux Native, with wine/Proton and any emulator that runs games minimum original frame rate with minimal issues.
Bear in mind that the Steam Deck is a handheld Linux computer, and anything that will run on the level of hardware it has and plays nicely with Linux will run on the Steam Deck.
Even just with only installing Steam on the Deck, as of mid-May there is 18k Deck Verified games.
If we’re putting the SteamDeck against Nintendo, I’d say the natural comparison is Steam exclusives against Nintendo exclusives.
This makes no sense because as you just mentioned, the Steam Deck is just a Valve-branded Linux distro. Really, what we should be doing is counting PC exclusives. And I say PC because Proton makes the difference between Windows and Linux moot – Steam Deck plays Windows games, often better than Windows itself.
If we’re talking exclusives, there are way more on PC than on Switch.
The whole reason the Steam Deck exists is to compete as a portable full sized hand-held console comparable to the Switch.
No, the whole reason the Steam Deck exists is to play your PC games on a handheld, and do it with a console-like experience.
What I feel you don’t understand – and I can’t emphasize this enough – is that there are games I’ve always wanted to play on a console that I just couldn’t because they required either a desktop or laptop. Off the top of my head, here’s just a few:
- Blood
- Septerra Core
- Jazz Jackrabbit
- Fate
- AquaNox
You know how many times I wanted those games to get ported to console? Decades later, it still hasn’t happened.
What the Steam Deck does is make games that were previously inaccessible – available on handheld and TV (via dock).
It’s a handheld PC, a new product category. The switch isn’t competing with it, it’s just a toy.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
shrug to each their own
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.
You were saying earlier the main reason someone would buy a switch 2 was nostalgia. Nintendo still makes great games that generally run great even on their lowered speced hardware. Some of the games for the switch were some of the best installments in their respective franchises.
I’ve become disillusioned a bit with them for other reasons (console repairability, their litigiousness, the semi-closed ecosystem, joycon drift, the higher game price points lately) but the exclusive games are still rocking, and the exclusive games are a lot of the reason you’d buy a switch 2.
I’m frankly glad you liked them so much. Which are your favorites?
Animal Crossing New Horizons was great. I was also a pretty big fan of Mario Odyssey. Both Zelda games were great (though I know the first one was released to the Wii U or whatever). Mario Kart was great of course. Mario party was a little underwhelming this time but I think they’ve since released a better one. Smash Brothers was great. Mario Wonder? Was pretty awesome too.
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.
deleted by creator
One way to get offended and misinterpret a sentence. Lol no one wants to talk to you anyways lil bro.
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.
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.
deleted by creator
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 $1000 CAD), since you can just play any of your Xbox Play Anywhere games that you have acquired on sale, or have access to via Game Pass. You don’t even need a subscription to access online play, and it has free cloud saves.
So a high end PC is cheaper than a switch + 10 games, and the PC has a loooot of games already
If you want to play Mario Kart World, your only option is to buy a Switch 2. Period.
For now.
Sure, if it doesn’t bother someone to wait 3-5 years. It’s no Problem. You can say this too all kind of Games. You don’t want to pay 100$ 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
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
Super tux kart is free
Punished Arbuckle
I mean, in the past it was their biggest advantage but, yeah, now it’s not wroth the investment.
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.
And it’s an even better experience to emulate too, you get lots of options for the same or better performance, resolution, better than default graphics options, mods etc.
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
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. :)
