The Steam Sales refer to annual discount events that take place on Valve’s video game software distribution platform Steam, most notably the Steam Summer Sale held annually at the start of summer break and the Steam Holiday Sale during the holiday season. During these events, a large selection of titles become available for purchase at a discount price for limited time, and as a result, many Steam customers tend to make impulse purchases and overspend.

Every year, there are sales for each season, winter, summer, fall, and spring. With the popularity of PC Gaming and Steam gradually increasing, these sales would often cause a spike in users online at a time, and increases the number of people who use Steam. Because of the popularity of Steam and the Holiday Sales increasing, more and more games are added to the software, which then makes more and more games go on sale each season.

Well known gaming websites such as IGN and Gamespot typically post news and announcements for the Holiday Sales when they happen, as well as especially good sales, such as BioShock Infinite being on sale for 50% off. Other websites such as Reddit, 4chan, and Cheezburger typically have several posts relating to the Sale each time there is a new one. The website Gaben.tv was created to have sales numbers fall from the top of the screen and graphics of various games that are up for sale with the song “Are you ready for a miracle” looping in the background.