Hide your wallets—Gabe Newell has finally pressed the button. The Steam Winter Sale 2025 officially kicked off today, Thursday, December 18, and as expected, the servers are taking a beating.

Once the store pages load, you’ll find some of the deepest discounts of the year. Whether you are looking for the historic low on Baldur’s Gate 3 or finally planning to pick up a Steam Deck OLED, this guide covers everything you need to know to navigate the chaos.

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Steam Winter Sale 2025 Dates and Times

One of the most common questions is: When does the Steam Winter Sale end? You have exactly two weeks to make your decisions.

Start Date: December 18, 2025 (Live Now)
End Date: January 5, 2026
End Time: 10:00 AM PST (Pacific Standard Time)

Best Hardware Deal: Steam Deck OLED

In a rare move, Valve has discounted their hardware during a major seasonal sale. If you have been on the fence about handheld gaming, now is the time to jump in.

1TB Steam Deck OLED: 15% OFF

This is the largest discount we’ve seen on the OLED model since its launch. The 1TB model comes with the premium anti-glare etched glass screen, making it the definitive way to play your backlog on the go.

Top 3 “Must-Buy” Game Deals

We have scoured the front page so you don’t have to. Here are the historic lows that are worth your money.

1. Baldur’s Gate 3

Discount: 50% Off It took two years, but Larian Studios has finally cut the price of the Game of the Decade by half. If you haven’t experienced this D&D masterpiece yet, this is the entry point you’ve been waiting for. At 50% off, the price-to-content ratio is unbeatable.

2. Hades 2

Discount: 20% Off (First Major Sale) Following its 1.0 full release earlier this year, Hades 2 sees its first significant price drop. Supergiant Games somehow improved on perfection, delivering a roguelike with tighter combat and even more narrative depth than the original.

How to Get Free Money (Steam Trading Cards)

Don’t forget to vote in the Steam Awards! This isn’t just about community spirit; it is literally free money.

Every day during the sale, you can earn a “Steam Winter Sale 2025” trading card by browsing your Discovery Queue.

Go to the Steam Store front page.
Scroll down to “Explore Your Queue.”
Click through the 12 games (you don’t have to buy anything).
Receive a card.

Pro Tip: These cards usually sell for $0.05 – $0.10 on the Community Market immediately after the sale starts. Selling them can fund a cheap indie game or DLC before the sale ends on Jan 5th!