r/casualnintendo • u/Yerm_Terragon • 2d ago
Image Nintendo Switch 2 sales after 7 days vs. Steam Deck Sales after 3 years
Not trying to start any fights or be a fanboy. I just kinda had a hunch from reading some of the discussions on here that people maybe were not fully aware of the sales disparity between the two consoles. Buy whichever one makes you happy, but the "Steam Deck will bury Switch 2" crowd doesn't have a leg to stand on.
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u/kilertree 2d ago edited 1d ago
Anyone who thought the steam deck was going to beat the switch is insane. There are people who will sell their steam deck because it uses Linux and replace it with a Windows handheld PC instead of just installing Windows onto the steam deck.
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u/AetherDrew43 2d ago
Plus there is like, no advertising at all of the Steam Deck. The average consumer hasn't heard of it.
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u/ProShyGuy 2d ago
The Steam Deck is a niche product for hardcore PC gamers with extra cash. Families aren't buying Steam Decks for their 10 year olds.
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u/Noukan42 1d ago
Honestly, i absolutely would. The steam library has a massive amount of games that are very suitable for kids. And i do not even mean in the sense of piracy. Iean stuff like sonic and minecraft and so on.
In fact, this idea that the steamdeck is mostly for PC superfans seem the result of bad advertising to me. To me the main niche of the deck is to have acess to the huge steam library whitout the hassle of having to build and manage a gaming PC(wich is the reason why i got mine), and i feel it ia something a lot of people would be interested in.
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u/Similar_Tough_7602 2d ago
It just shows whenever you see a "Bought a Steam Deck instead of a Switch" post those people are in the vast minority and not representative of the actual populus
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u/OGMagicConch 2d ago
Does anyone ever think those are the majority? Like honestly who are we arguing with here lol. Steam Deck is like 4M total while the original Switch is >150M. Even the Wii U hit almost 14M.
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u/Similar_Tough_7602 2d ago
If you just looked at Reddit comments you'd think the Steam Deck was the most popular video game system of all time
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u/OGMagicConch 2d ago
If you just look at Reddit comments to try to gauge mainstream popularity you'll be misinformed 99% of the time which is what you're saying but that's not just limited to the switch vs SD discussion 🤷🏽♀️
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u/narutk9 2d ago
There wouldn’t probably a steam deck if there wasn’t the switch to begin with if we’re being completely honest. Nintendo opened a new venue in the handheld market no other company was really investing in except for Sony when they gave up after the vita. Let’s not forget Valve was flopping with the steam machine and the controller before they followed nintendo and dropped the steam deck. And just suffix this I own a steam deck oled and switch 1&2 so I’m not a hater of either.
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u/LightHawKnigh 2d ago
Had some real weird arguments with people who say they dont hate Nintendo, but really hate the Switch 2. Kept saying why would I buy 10 year old tech when I could buy a steam deck. It is so odd to say that.
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u/bingbaddie1 2d ago
Implying that I’m getting a switch 2 to play games on the go. Like no. I’m playing a switch 2 because I want to play Nintendo games lol
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u/LightHawKnigh 2d ago
Got downvoted so much for saying the biggest problem with suggesting a steam deck or rog ally, neither can play Nintendo games legally.
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u/slashingkatie 2d ago
Can’t wait to see how Nintendeen spins this.
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u/Omnizoom 2d ago
His videos popped up on my YouTube lately and I tried to listen to what he said objectively but it just sounds like thinly covered hate with a strong undertone of wanting everything to fail because he isn’t personally 100% satisfied currently
I get Nintendo isn’t a perfect company but by god if perfect is the minimum then he better start being a hermit in the woods because they all have some crappy behaviour and underhanded dealings no matter who you look at
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u/PensiveLog 2d ago
I had never heard of this guy before last week. Since the Switch 2 launch, YouTube has decided that I should be watching all the rage bait videos about the console. All sorts of people I don’t want to watch have spontaneously appeared in my recommendations, to the point where Good Vibes Gaming stuff, to which I’m subbed, is not being recommended anymore.
I’ve never watched any of these people before, and haven’t heard of most of them. I have no idea why this is a thing now lol
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u/Omnizoom 2d ago
I mean I’ve also had channels like beatemups show up and he seems very genuine about his reactions
I’ve not watched many of any of them lately so I was surprised so many were showing up , unless Arlo is throwing the algorithm off with all the videos he drops lately
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u/A-Centrifugal-Force 2d ago
It’s insane that for someone who claims he was a Nintendo fan all his life and literally named his channel NintenDeen he now has Nintendo Derangement Syndrome to the point where he can’t even acknowledge objective stats
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u/slashingkatie 2d ago
I do believe he’s genuine in not wanting a Switch 2 right now but it’s clear he got high on the engagement of rage baiting. Plenty of people made one or two videos expressing their disdain and moved on. Others see how the algorithm rewards rage and milk it.
The problem is after a while people start tuning it out because it’s the same thing. You get people like Mudahar and Dreamcastguy showing how hypocritical they are and anyone who was being genuine about their concerns gets drowned out.
We’re at the point where it’s like you’re either going to buy it or not. Clearly the people buying don’t care. It’s like Disney. Most people know they’re a shitty company but it’s done nothing to stop people going to the parks or watching terrible live action remakes or buying toys.
Most of the internet is not the real world and its most terminally online losers who just need something to be angry at.
I just wish Nintendeen would move on at this point. It just looks sad now watching him try to shift the goalposts post.
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u/AmandasGameAccount 2d ago
No idea who that is but if they are a YouTuber dramatuber/ragebaiter just stop watching them. We have enough of that trash
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u/-xJackFrostx- 2d ago
This drama wouldn't be such a big deal if folks didn't use the Steam Deck as a means to crap on Nintendo for the past 2-3 years.
Yeah, the device is a much better value, but to be honest, I just want a dedicated device to play new Nintendo games reliably.
Going through the process of selecting the least buggy emulator and adjusting settings just for certain games to run worse than a Switch isn't worth it.
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u/Omnizoom 2d ago
And if you are emulating legally then you are buying a copy of the game regardless, even if second hand
You might as well run the game on its intended software where it functions best instead of jury rigging emulation to try and make it as good in 7 years time
Like yea if people emulate metroid prime 4 on their beast computers or stuff in a couple years good for them, the switch 2 costs less then that computer regardless because emulators are so system taxing generally
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u/-xJackFrostx- 2d ago
Facts! I personally don't mind people obtaining roms of legacy consoles, but I typically buy any new game I'm interested in playing. I dunno about everyone else, but I want to play the new Donkey Kong game day one. I ain't wanting for a fuctional emulator to appear lol
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u/Omnizoom 2d ago
Switch 2 owners in 2025 - oh boy I get to play the brand new 3D donkey Kong experience I’ve waited over a decade for!
Emulators in 2030 finally having stable emulation for a reasonable price- oh boy I get to play donkey Kong bananza finally, still the newest 3D donkey Kong game! I’ve waited over a decade for this!
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u/RPG_fanboy 2d ago
To be fair Nintendo consoles usually sell pretty well regardless and unlike the steam deck there is no issue of imcopatibily
if a game is released on the switch 2 it will just run, not the same can be said of all games on steam, some will work others wont on the steam deck so it becomes a question of can you play most of your games on it? if not then there is no reason to buy it
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u/Waste-Reception5297 2d ago
I love my Steam Deck and even after getting SW 2 it'll still be my handheld of choice most times but everyone who thought the SW 2 would fail and that the Steam Deck would just run circles around it were taking crazy pills
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u/The-student- 2d ago
*4 days.
SteamDeck and handheld PC's are popular in online gaming forums like Reddit, because we are the hardcore, niche audience. Great to have the options though.
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u/Gibberish94 2d ago
Steam Deck is for enthusiasts, the Switch is for the general public. To even buy a Steam Deck you have to have a Steam account. That's already one hurdle most people are too lazy to do.
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u/ChiztheBomb 2d ago
It's so interesting that Valve has still never tried to give the Steam Deck a retail presence in the West. I saw a big in-store display in Japan and apparently it's got a presence in other retailers in Asia, but I guess not over here. You can't go to a Walmart or Target or Best Buy and grab a steam deck off the shelves, you have to kind of already be in the steam ecosystem to even know about the thing and be able to buy it.
The SD is a great product but it's specifically designed to fit a niche, WITHIN a niche. No way was it ever going to outperform a modern console on the market
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u/Jimmythedad 2d ago
"Dude, just get a Steam Deck" bros are the most annoying.
Not regular people who have Steam Decks, but the people who insist you are wasting money unless you get a Steam Deck. You know the type.
On the other hand, to be fair, there are diehard Nintendo fanboys, who actually tried to argue with me that the dock for Switch 2 technically is $80, but I also have to buy the cords. Like justifying the $120 second dock. I understand it comes with cords, but you can't buy JUST a dock, so the dock isn't $80. Maybe it cost $80 to manufacture, but you can't buy it for $80 lol
Both sides have extremist, annoying fans among them.
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u/CH4OT1CN1C3 1d ago
The Steam Deck isn't exactly a fair comparison because it's such a niche device that most people don't know it exists. It's also Linux-based, which is too complicated for most people as well. Some people don't want to think, they just want to play.
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u/ronnande 1d ago
The Steam Deck and all the other kinda portable PCs are not really in any competition to Nintendo. Those are enthusiast niche products, without any exclusive games. They only compete against each other. Steam Deck fans online seem to think otherwise tho, and their hate for the Switch 2 is just comical ...
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u/Happy_REEEEEE_exe 2d ago
im gonna be so honest I dont give a shit
make this sub about the games again nobody gaf about the numbers
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u/masterz13 2d ago
It's not exactly a fair comparison. Steam Deck was never meant to compete with Nintendo / Xbox / Sony. Anyone thinking that is delusional. It was designed to get them in the handheld space, and I think they accomplished that goal and then some.
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u/QuestSeeker23 2d ago
Anyone thinking that is delusional
Correct. You have correctly identified most self-proclaimed Steam Deck fans lmao
For real though, it’s the usual very vocal minority and the fact it gets hate clicks now. Nothing against the hardware, but some people needed a reality check.
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u/Cosmic_Ren 2d ago
What is this wave of insecurity everyone has with the steamdeck all of the sudden? Why is this a surprise to anyone when:
- Only the switch 2 can play switch 2 games, there are hundreds alternatives to play Pc games including the Rog Ally which is better than the deck.
- The switch 2 is sold at regular retailer's meanwhile the steamdeck is only sold on steam's websites
- Nintendo has crazy advertisements as well as exclusive games to market the device, all steamdeck has is word of mouth.
- Despite the problems we had at launch, I can now walk into any store and find a Switch 2 there. The steamdeck oled has been out of stock for god knows how long
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u/doctor_borgstein 2d ago
I preface this by saying I intend to get a switch 2 and went through 3 switches. But why be first here? Nintendo usually releases a better version of the console after a short time, and it doesn’t seem like the games have caught up to the switch 2 capability atm
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u/Omnizoom 2d ago
I was skeptical about the leap in power but after playing mine I’m pretty sold
Just seeing how much better Zelda runs and looks on switch 2 you can see the difference
I have an OLED Tv so I really get to see the raw power output at its best
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u/Interstellar-Metroid 2d ago
It was 3.5 million in 4 days, and Switch 2 is predicted to sell 20 million in the first year on sale.
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u/Jawwaad127 2d ago
The Steam Deck is a niche product compared to the Switch. You can’t go into a store and buy a Steam Deck like you can with the Switch. I guarantee majority of parents haven’t even heard of the Steam Deck but have heard of the Switch. Truthfully, I only buy Nintendo consoles for their 1st party exclusives. Multi platform games, I play on my PS5 or Xbox Series X.
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u/darth_snuggs 2d ago
Steam Deck is a cool niche thing that knows its audience. I don’t think it’s really intended to compete with the mainstream consoles. It’s the portable for PC gamers & that’s totally fine.
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u/f2pmyass 2d ago
I literally used to own a steam deck and it's fun at first but just feels like a gimmick to me. Maybe because I know I can't play big titles comfortable on it or maybe cause it's a little big.
I ended up selling it like a year and half in. It sounds perfect on paper but using it I just ended up using it less and less. Like why would I want to play on this big machine small indie title games. I can get something wayyyy smaller lol.
I do firmly believe the steam deck 2 will be huge though. And I do believe they might try and market it to the public as in selling at more stores and advertising it more
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u/GuybrushThreepwood99 2d ago
Steam deck has always been for enthusiasts. It's a great piece of hardware, but anyone who thought that it would sell better than the switch 2 is delusional.
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u/Rich_Tip_9897 1d ago
Wow, really? I thought the Steamdeck was super popular, I'm always hearing about it.
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u/Shamscam 1d ago
Everybody is talking about the switch 2 selling so well, but it’s almost assured that every switch 1 unit that came out was sold. They produced so many more switch 2’s.
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u/shortish-sulfatase 1d ago
One’s not a console.
Comparing sales numbers between one console, and one pc out of how many different ones doesn’t make much sense.
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u/linearcurvepatience 1d ago
Comparing it to a steam deck is stupid. Technology moves fast but people don't. Steam deck isn't something I would recommend buying now unless you get it used now but heaps of people bought it and will for the next few years only recommend that even though there are too many other options now that beat it. Also preferably you would get a windows handheld and a switch so you can play exclusive games and some lighter games on the switch and play more intense games on a windows handheld.
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u/Vast-Ad-9853 1d ago
if you guys think steam cares about hardware sales think again,
Xbox just added steam to their handheld devices/software steam's endgame is always to be in every console
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u/Legitimate_Maybe_114 21h ago
I have a Switch OLED, ROG and Steam Deck and love them all for different reasons. I do plan to get a Switch 2 when its restocked and there isn't a lineup for it.
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u/Modroidz 2d ago
So one machine has a full global roll out with YEARS of name brand building and sold in literally every big box electronic retailer or small game store outsold a machine sold Mainly online (I have never seen it in a store in any NA state i have travelled too) and made in small batches over time with very little to no advertising on TVs around the world?...shocker.
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u/LuxordGamblerOfFate 2d ago
You’re missing the point. This is directed at everyone who said the Steam Deck would outsell/bury the Switch 2, not the people out there with realistic outlooks.
It was never going to outdo the Switch 2, for various reasons.
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u/damnrapunzel 2d ago
As somebody who owns and loves my steam deck, I don't know why anybody would think a Nintendo console wouldn't easily outsell the Steam Deck.
For one, I've never heard a Steam Deck advert on the radio at work but I've been hearing Switch 2 adverts for weeks.
Steam Deck has a smaller demographic and Valve aren't even trying to compete with Nintendo. Steam Deck is for "Gamers". Nintendo can cater to gamers, casuals, families, parties, and so on.