Steam vs Xbox:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Xbox had more branded searches than Steam among gaming platforms worldwide. Xbox was estimated to have 7.5M branded searches compared to Steam’s 368K, and held a 45.8% 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, Steam or Xbox?
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 Xbox, 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 Steam and Xbox comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Xbox was ahead of Steam in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Xbox’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide moved from 44.2% to 45.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 7.5M.
How did search popularity change for gaming platforms worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
In August 2026, Xbox gained estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide, from 43.5% to 45.8%.
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 Steam’s and Xbox’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.
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.