Handheld gaming PCs surpass 6 million sales, with Steam Deck accounting for more than half

The big picture: Released three years ago today, Valve's Steam Deck has become one of the most notable products in PC gaming hardware, creating an entirely new market segment. While manufacturers like GPD began selling handheld gaming PCs years earlier, estimates from IDC show that the Steam Deck vastly dominates the market. However, the potential for future growth remains uncertain.

According to IDC estimates provided to The Verge, approximately six million handheld gaming PCs have been sold since the Steam Deck's launch in 2022. Despite having little retail presence, Valve's handheld accounts for over 3.7 million of those units.

Valve previously stated that the Steam Deck had sold in the "multiple millions." IDC estimates suggest that it sold 1.62 million units in 2022, with total lifetime sales possibly exceeding four million by now.