February 25, 2025, marked the third anniversary of Valve’s Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device that has significantly impacted the PC gaming landscape. Since its release in 2022, Steam Deck has reshaped portable gaming by offering players the ability to run their full Steam library on the go.

Despite early skepticism and a launch with limited availability, Steam Deck has sold an estimated 3.7 to 4 million units, outperforming competitors such as Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw, which have collectively sold fewer than 2 million units in the same timeframe. Valve’s device has remained the dominant force in the handheld gaming PC market, thanks to its affordability, extensive game compatibility through Proton, and an ever-improving SteamOS.

While competitors have released higher-powered alternatives, Steam Deck’s balance of performance, battery life, and software integration has kept it at the forefront of the handheld gaming market. Valve has previously stated that a successor, Steam Deck 2, will only arrive when significant advancements in hardware can provide a meaningful upgrade without sacrificing power efficiency or price competitiveness.

As Steam Deck enters its fourth year, its success shows no signs of slowing down, reaffirming Valve’s place in the portable gaming space.

Source: The Verge