Nintendo Switch vs Steam:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Nintendo Switch had more branded searches than Steam among gaming platforms worldwide. Nintendo Switch was estimated to have 3.4M branded searches compared to Steam’s 368K, and held a 20.5% Share of Search versus Steam’s 2.3%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Nintendo Switch or Steam?
Compare the platforms people buy and play games on. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Nintendo Switch, Steam. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo Switch | Steam | GOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.2% | 29.5% | 24.1% | 1.2% | 0.97% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.2% | 29.6% | 24.2% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 41.2% | 33.7% | 22.5% | 1.7% | 0.91% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.9% | 30.7% | 20.6% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.9% | 35% | 19.2% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 37% | 30.2% | 30.2% | 1.5% | 1% |
| Apr 2026 | 41.3% | 33.8% | 22.6% | 1.4% | 0.91% |
| May 2026 | 39.3% | 32.1% | 26.2% | 1.6% | 0.87% |
| Jun 2026 | 45.3% | 30.3% | 20.3% | 3.3% | 0.82% |
| Jul 2026 | 43.5% | 35.6% | 16% | 3.9% | 0.96% |
| Aug 2026 | 45.8% | 30.6% | 20.5% | 2.3% | 0.83% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Nintendo Switch and Steam comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Nintendo Switch was ahead of Steam in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Nintendo Switch’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide moved from 24.1% to 20.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Steam’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide moved from 1.2% to 2.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 368K.
How did search popularity change for gaming platforms worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Nintendo Switch gained estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide, from 16% to 20.5%.
In August 2026, Steam lost estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide, from 3.9% to 2.3%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nintendo Switch’s and Steam’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Nintendo Switch
1 branded search term
- switch 2
Steam
1 branded search term
- steam games
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.