Steam Winter Sale 2025: Start Time and Confirmed Games

• Start time: Dec 18, 10AM PST / 1PM EDT / 6PM GMT.
• Sale runs from Dec 18, 2025 to Jan 5, 2026 — two days longer than last year.
• Valve’s trailer confirms titles including Dispatch, Hades 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Borderlands 4.
• Official prices aren’t live yet; thousands of additional discounts are expected.

When does the Steam Winter Sale 2025 start?

Valve’s Steam Winter Sale 2025 is scheduled to kick off on December 18 at 10AM PST / 1PM EDT / 6PM GMT. The countdown was confirmed via SteamDB, which tracks Valve’s sale schedules and has listed the launch time publicly.

Sale length and comparison to 2024

The event will run through January 5, 2026, giving players an extra two days compared with last year’s December 19–January 2 window. That extension increases the chance to catch deeper discounts and seasonal bundles.

Confirmed games in Valve’s trailer

Valve’s trailer highlights a mix of AAA and indie releases. The featured slate confirms both recent critical hits and major studio releases expected to see significant discounts.

Notable confirmed titles

Games shown in the trailer include Dispatch, Hades 2, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Borderlands 4, Elden Ring Nightreign, Slime Rancher 2, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Dune Awakening, Megabonk and more. This is not the full catalog — past Steam Winter Sales have offered deals for thousands of titles across the store.

Watch the trailer

Valve’s promotional video lists confirmed games and sets the tone for the sale. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76bmexgiHqo

Why Dispatch and Hades 2 matter for the sale

Dispatch is an episodic superhero comedy from indie studio AdHoc and has earned strong critical praise and award recognition. Hades 2 is another critically acclaimed release that won Best Action Game and was nominated for Game of the Year.

What to expect on launch day

Valve hasn’t released discount rates or exact price cuts. Expect a broad range of offers — from deep markdowns on older AAA titles to temporary deals and publisher bundles. Use SteamDB and wishlists to track price drops once the sale goes live.

Quick roadmap beyond the Winter Sale

SteamDB also lists Valve’s planned 2026 festival and sale dates, including Detective Fest, Board Game Fest and the Spring Sale. These may shift, but the current roadmap gives an early look at Valve’s promotional calendar for 2026.

Keep your Steam wishlist updated and check back at the launch time to catch the best discounts as soon as they go live.