Steam game price history: deciding whether to wait for a sale
Steam itself does not show price history - only the current one and the size of the current discount. To understand whether it’s worth buying now or waiting, you need third-party services that have been tracking this history for years.
Where to see how much the game cost before and what the minimum price was, how to read the frequency of discounts and why the historical minimum is not always the best time to buy.
Where to check price history
SteamDB stores the price history of games and helps you compare discounts by region. The free Augmented Steam extension adds pricing information directly to the store page; its source code is available under GPL-3.0. Price sources may vary, so check store, currency and region of offer.
You need to look at three things: the minimum price for all time, the size of the last discount and how often the discounts happened at all.
Separately check the date of the last discount. If the game became cheaper every two or three months, and the last time was four months ago, the wait won't be long.
Sale patterns
Steam has major seasonal sales that repeat around the same periods year after year. Between them there are thematic ones - by genres, publishers and events.
Most games get the maximum discount during major seasonal sales. If there are several weeks left until the next one, and the discount is now average, it is usually more profitable to wait.
The exception is new releases. In the first months, new games either do not become cheaper at all, or become symbolically cheaper, and you can wait for a very long time.
- Look at the price in your region - the historical minimum differs from country to country.
- Compare the same editions: the base game, bundle and DLC edition have different graphics.
- A percentage discount without an absolute price says nothing.
Why the historical low is not the only consideration
The all-time low may have been set once three years ago as part of a promotion that would never happen again. You can wait endlessly for his return.
It's more useful to look at a typical discount - one that is repeated regularly. If the game consistently drops to minus fifty percent a couple of times a year, this is your real goal, and not the record minus eighty percent from the past.
And consider the cost of waiting. Not playing for six months to save a few hundred rubles is a dubious deal if you need the game now.
Regional prices
Services often show prices in different regions, and the difference can be noticeable. It’s normal to use this as reference information, but buying something that bypasses the region of your account is a violation of the Steam rules with all the consequences, including blocking purchases.
Changing the store region is also not free: it breaks trade and the Marketplace for a long time. It's not worth it for the price difference of one game.
Frequently asked questions
Does Steam show price history?
No, only the current price and current discount. The history is kept by third-party trackers.
How to find out the minimum price for a game for all time?
In the price tracker - the historical minimum for your region is indicated there with the date when it was.
When are the biggest discounts at Steam?
Usually at large seasonal sales, which are repeated year after year. Between them are thematic ones with smaller discounts.
Should we expect a historical low?
More often than not. Focus on a typical recurring discount, not a one-time record from the past.
Is it possible to buy the game cheaper in another region?
Purchasing outside your account region violates the Steam rules and may result in purchase restrictions. Changing the region disrupts trade for a long time.
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