The gaming community has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, the first GPU to utilize AMD’s RDNA 3 graphics architecture. However, recent data from Valve’s survey of Steam users paints a rather disappointing picture of AMD’s market share in the graphics card industry.
According to the survey, AMD graphics cards currently make up a mere 8.68% of the total Steam gamer population. However, it is important to note that these figures only account for AMD’s discrete GPUs and exclude integrated GPUs like those found in the Steam Deck and AMD’s APUs. This exclusion likely skews the data and underrepresents AMD’s overall market presence.
The “Other” Category
Interestingly, the survey reveals that approximately 10.69% of all GPUs on Steam fall into a generic “Other” category. This category encompasses unidentified graphics cards, integrated GPUs, and those with negligible market share. While the specifics are not provided, it is plausible to assume that a portion of this category belongs to AMD. Nevertheless, even if we factor in AMD’s share of the “Other” category, their market footprint remains relatively modest, likely no more than 10% in total.
Nvidia’s Dominance in the Graphics Card Market
In stark contrast, Nvidia holds a commanding proportion of the Steam-registered graphics cards market, standing at approximately 75%. This significant lead positions Nvidia as the preferred choice among gamers. Meanwhile, integrated GPUs from Intel and AMD account for the remaining share.
Intel’s Arc Graphics Cards and Steam Deck
It is worth mentioning that Intel’s recently released Arc graphics cards do not appear in the Steam survey, and they likely fall under the “Other” category due to their limited market presence. On the other hand, AMD’s Van Gogh GPU, featured in Valve’s Steam Deck, has emerged as the third most popular AMD GPU, trailing behind the generic “AMD Radeon Graphics” and the Radeon RX 580.
The Steam Deck’s Significance
Despite its seemingly low percentage, the Steam Deck represents a noteworthy 0.82% of Steam gamers. When considering the large user base of Steam, estimated to be between 100 and 150 million monthly users, this percentage translates to a substantial number of Steam Decks in circulation. This highlights the growing popularity and adoption of handheld gaming devices.
The Limitations of the Steam Survey
It is important to recognize that the Steam survey has its limitations. The data relies on Steam gamers willingly participating and accurately identifying their hardware. Past surveys have revealed inconsistencies and anomalies, such as drastic fluctuations in graphics card usage percentages. Nonetheless, the Steam survey remains a valuable source of insight into the hardware preferences of gamers.
When examining AMD’s market share in the graphics card industry based on the Steam survey, it is evident that the company still faces significant challenges in competing with Nvidia. While the exclusion of integrated GPUs and the classification of “Other” may skew the data, AMD’s overall presence remains relatively modest. As the gaming landscape evolves, it will be interesting to see how AMD’s upcoming releases, like the RDNA 3-powered Radeon RX 7900 XTX, influence their market standing.
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