Steam wrapped up 2025 with a record-breaking December, marked by more than 100 million active users and an estimated gross revenue of $1.6 billion. This figure not only represents a substantial 22.7% increase year-over-year but also surpasses the platform’s previous December high set in 2020, a period characterized by heightened engagement due to pandemic circumstances. The holiday season continues to prove vital for PC gaming, with the Steam Winter Sale playing a pivotal role in driving sales and user engagement.
The sale, which combined deep discounts with an increase in player free time, enabled a diverse range of games—including new releases, long-standing live titles, and older catalog favorites—to significantly boost their sales. One of the standout performers during the holiday season was ARC Raiders, which sold an impressive 1.2 million copies between December 21 and January 4, making it the top-selling title during that two-week period.
During this peak sales time, ARC Raiders achieved several significant milestones, surpassing 12 million copies sold across all platforms, with 7 million of those sales attributed to Steam. A strategic 20% discount helped revitalize sales that had begun to plateau earlier in December. On Boxing Day alone, the game sold approximately 250,000 copies in just one day. Player engagement also spiked, with nearly 3.2 million players logging in across all platforms, more than half of whom accessed the game via Steam. In terms of revenue, ARC Raiders generated an estimated $32 million, placing it second on Steam’s revenue charts during the holiday period, following the consistently dominant Counter-Strike 2.
While new releases like ARC Raiders drew considerable attention, the Steam Winter Sale was equally effective in revitalizing interest in older titles. Detroit: Become Human, for instance, ranked just behind ARC Raiders in unit sales, moving an estimated 993,000 units during the same holiday window. The narrative-driven game hit its lowest-ever Steam price at $4, significantly dropping from its standard price of $40. Although this aggressive pricing yielded a short-term revenue of around $3.2 million, it helped the title surpass 7 million lifetime sales on Steam and exceed $150 million in total revenue on the platform, while also reigniting interest in a game that has been available for several years.
Several established titles also experienced a sales surge during the holiday season. PEAK, a cooperative climbing game, sold an additional 779,000 copies, bringing its total Steam sales to over 16 million units. This sustained chart presence reflects a successful pricing strategy that continually introduces the game to new players during major sales events. Similarly, Icarus sold approximately 735,000 copies, benefiting from its steepest discount to date, which saw its price drop from $35 to just $3. This significant discount helped it surpass 3.5 million copies sold on Steam, with strong performance noted not only in the United States but also in markets such as Russia and Brazil. With console versions set to launch later this quarter, the sale positioned Icarus for broader platform growth.
The holiday rankings underscored the diversity of content thriving on Steam. Battlefield 6 achieved approximately 706,000 copies sold, bolstered by a 30% discount that converted many hesitant wishlisters into buyers. Meanwhile, the cooperative horror game R.E.P.O. moved around 666,000 copies, pushing its total sales close to 20 million units. The title’s recurring presence in the charts illustrates how periodic discounts can maintain visibility long after its initial launch. Rounding out the top performers, Slay the Spire sold around 590,000 copies during the holiday window and reached its lowest-ever price of $2, helping it surpass 9 million copies sold overall. With Slay the Spire II in development and set to enter early access in March, the discount served to expand its player base in anticipation of the sequel.
The 2025 holiday season reaffirmed a familiar trend in gaming: when players have more free time and are actively seeking new content, pricing strategies can significantly influence buying behavior. Moderate discounts maintain momentum for newer titles, while substantial cuts on older games lower the entry barrier for those who may have hesitated in the past. These sales are not solely about immediate revenue; they also serve as a catalyst for converting passive interest into long-term player engagement. As Steam heads into the new year, the combination of timing, pricing, and player availability will remain critical factors in shaping both short-term results and future growth.
