Latest Insights into Handheld Gaming Markets

New data from IDC reveals that Valve’s Steam Deck stands as the leading handheld gaming PC, maintaining its popularity despite a significant drop in the handheld market.

Key Findings

• The handheld gaming market saw a dramatic 50% decline in sales from 2023 to 2024, with total units sold falling to 1,485,000.
• IDC’s data indicates that Steam Deck accounted for more than 50% of handheld sales in 2023, and a similar trend is expected for 2024.

Market Context

IDC’s report highlights the significant disparity in sales between handheld PCs and more traditional gaming platforms:

• Approximately 35 to 50 million desktop gaming graphics cards are sold yearly.
• In comparison, sales of the Nintendo Switch have reached 150 million units since its launch in 2017, illustrating the substantial difference in market size.

Despite the evident interest, the handheld gaming PC sector remains a niche market. Moving forward, IDC forecasts 1,926,000 handheld sales for 2025, which still falls short of previous year’s performance.

For more insights and future predictions, stay tuned to the latest gaming trends.