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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Steam Winter Sale 2024 began December 19 and ended January 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. Pacific. Valve said thousands of games were included, but it did not describe the event as having a uniform discount or officially rank it as the year’s biggest sale. Contemporary coverage highlighted several highly rated games alongside titles with more mixed user ratings.
When did the Steam Winter Sale 2024 start and end?
Valve announced the sale on December 19, 2024. It ran through January 2, 2025, ending at 10 a.m. Pacific. It is a past event, so the discounts and prices below are historical rather than current offers. Valve said thousands of games of many kinds were on sale, without claiming a single discount applied to every game. Valve’s announcement also promoted Steam Awards voting and Discovery Queue stickers.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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| 2 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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$500 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $500.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Which games were highlighted in the 2024 sale?
The following examples were reported by Notebookcheck on December 19, 2024, and updated May 5, 2025. Prices are historical US-dollar examples; offers could vary by region. The Steam user-rating labels are those reported at the time, not independent reviews or current ratings.
| Game | Reported discount and price | Reported Steam rating |
|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | 40% off; $35.99 | Very positive |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 55% off; $26.99 | Very positive |
| Crusader Kings III | 70% off; $14.99 | Very positive |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | 25% off; $52.49 | Mixed |
| Dragon Age: The Veilguard | 35% off; $38.99 | Mostly positive |
| Sons Of The Forest | 50% off; $14.99 | Not stated in the report |
| Final Fantasy XVI | 25% off; $37.49 | Not stated in the report |
| Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut | 20% off; $47.99 | Not stated in the report |
| Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition | 53% off; $14.80 | Not stated in the report |
Notebookcheck’s sale roundup provides examples, not a complete ranking. A larger percentage cut is not a measure of a game’s quality, and a positive Steam rating label reflects user feedback rather than a personalized recommendation. Compare genres and gameplay interests as well as the reported price and rating when judging which historical deal would have suited you.
#1 Best Overall
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
What else happened during the sale?
Discovery Queue stickers
Valve said users could earn three stickers each time they completed the Discovery Queue, up to three completions during the sale.
Steam Awards voting
Voting for the Steam Awards remained open until December 31, 2024, at 10 a.m. Pacific—before the sale itself ended.
Rank #2
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
How Steam seasonal discounts generally work
Steamworks documentation describes seasonal sales as events held four times a year and open to released games. These are general platform rules, not a list of confirmed placements or discounts for the 2024 Winter Sale.
- A discount of 20% or more triggers email notifications to players who have wishlisted the game and opted to receive them.
- Featured placement can depend on factors including tags, popularity, and recommendations; appearing in a sale does not guarantee a particular feature position.
See Steamworks’ discount guidance for the platform’s general sale mechanics.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Was it really the biggest sale of the year?
“Biggest sale of the year” is promotional framing, not a ranking supported by Valve’s announcement. Valve confirmed that thousands of games were on sale, but did not compare the Winter Sale’s discount depth with other Steam sales. The reported examples show that offers varied by title; they do not establish that this event had the year’s largest overall discounts.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Rank #4
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
