How was the reported 80% sales drop calculated?
The reported 80% decline is an independent estimate based on changes in the Steam Deck’s position on Steam’s revenue-ranked Top Sellers chart. Boiling Steam calculated the decline using typical weekly revenue associated with different positions on that chart.
As reported by TheGamer, the hardware moved from the top five to approximately #11–14. Boiling Steam estimated that products ranked fourth or fifth generate $6–$10 million in weekly revenue, compared with $1.2–$2.5 million for positions between tenth and fifteenth.
That produces an estimated revenue decline of 72–82%. Boiling Steam then used the higher average selling price to estimate that weekly unit sales fell from 11,000–18,000 in 2025 to 1,400–3,000 in July 2026.
The methodology has clear limits. Steam’s chart measures revenue rather than unit sales, and Boiling Steam describes its calculation as “napkin math”. Valve has not released data confirming the revenue or unit estimates.
Did the price increases cause the decline?
The timing supports a link between higher prices and weaker sales, although ranking data alone cannot establish price as the sole cause. According to Boiling Steam’s analysis, the average selling price increased by roughly $300 as base prices rose and Valve discontinued cheaper LCD configurations.
TheGamer reports a current price band of $789–$949 (approximately AED 2,896–3,483) for the configurations examined. That range should be treated as a reference conversion rather than UAE retail pricing or a globally uniform Valve price.
For comparison, the original Steam Deck launched with an MSRP range of $399–$649. Removing the less expensive LCD model changed the product mix by leaving buyers with costlier hardware choices, which complicates comparisons between current sales and earlier periods.
The estimated decline nevertheless points to substantial price resistance. Revenue rankings fell even though each unit was assumed to generate around $300 more than before, suggesting the reduction in estimated unit volume was steeper than the chart movement initially indicates.
Should buyers purchase now or wait?
There is no confirmed evidence that Steam Deck prices will fall soon, but Valve has also not announced another increase for the handheld. The available reporting therefore offers no firm basis for either rushing to buy or expecting a near-term discount.
Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat reportedly told Bloomberg that the memory-price situation is “still getting worse” and that the Steam Machine will likely become more expensive. That warning concerns the separate Steam Machine, not a confirmed future Steam Deck increase.
Buyers should treat the sales estimate as evidence that current pricing has weakened demand, rather than as a forecast for discounts. Waiting may make sense if the available configuration exceeds your budget, but the reporting does not establish when, or whether, lower prices will return.