Best Times to Buy PC Games: Seasonal Sales and Annual Deals Explained

Discover when and where PC games go on sale.

We explain key seasonal events (Steam Summer/Winter Sales, Black Friday, Prime Day, etc.) and share money-saving tips.

Get the lowest prices on your favorite PC games!

Best Times to Buy PC Games: Seasonal Sales and Annual Deals Explained

Most PC games eventually go on sale, but knowing when to buy can save you a lot of money.

Major gaming platforms and online stores hold large sale events at specific times of year.

By timing your purchases around these events and comparing prices, you can often pay far less than the original price.

For example, Steam’s seasonal sales during Summer, Autumn, and Winter generally offer the widest and deepest discounts (Steam sale dates: When is the next Steam sale? | PC Gamer).

In this guide, we explain the best seasons and annual promotions for buying PC games.

We cover Steam’s sales (summer, winter, spring, and fall), holiday and Black Friday deals, and other special promotions like Amazon Prime Day.

We also share insider tips for saving money (such as using game bundles or subscription services).

With the right timing and strategies – and by using our price-comparison site – you can build your PC game library cheaply.

Seasonal Sales

Video game platforms hold major seasonal sales throughout the year.

For example, Valve’s Steam platform has four big sales annually: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

In 2025, the Steam Spring Sale ran March 13–20, and the Steam Summer Sale is scheduled for June 26–July 10 (Learn When the Next Steam Sale Is and How to Save Money While Growing Your Game Library - CNET).

Steam’s Autumn Sale usually spans late November (e.g. Nov 27–Dec 4, 2024) and the Winter Sale in late December (Dec 19, 2024–Jan 2, 2025) (Learn When the Next Steam Sale Is and How to Save Money While Growing Your Game Library - CNET).

These events typically offer deep discounts (often 50–90% off) on thousands of games.

In fact, PC Gamer notes that seasonal Steam sales provide “the widest and deepest selection of discounts” (Steam sale dates: When is the next Steam sale? | PC Gamer), making them prime opportunities to save on big titles.

Other PC platforms also follow seasonal patterns.

Epic Games Store frequently holds large sales in winter and summer (often with weekly free game giveaways during the sale).

Digital retailers like GOG.com and Green Man Gaming run similar holiday sales.

Even hardware or game-code marketplaces tend to discount PC components and games during these periods.

In short, if you’re looking to buy a PC game at a big discount, first check if a seasonal sale is happening or about to start.

Steam Sales: Steam’s big sale events are worth marking on your calendar.
For 2025, the confirmed dates include Spring Sale (Mar 13–20, 2025) and Summer Sale (June 26–July 10, 2025) (Learn When the Next Steam Sale Is and How to Save Money While Growing Your Game Library - CNET).
The Winter Sale and Autumn Sale typically occur around late Dec and late Nov, respectively.
During these events, hundreds of games are deeply discounted.
Epic Games Store: Epic usually runs store-wide sales during major holidays (e.g. a Holiday Mega Sale in December, a Summer Sale in July, etc.), often bundling them with free game promotions.
Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Every late November, nearly all game storefronts and retailers slashing prices.
Steam and others often match or exceed discounts from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
Amazon Prime Day: Amazon’s Prime Day (usually late June) sometimes features PC game bundles or hardware deals (The Best Times to Buy Video Games: When to Find PC and Console Deals ), so it’s another opportunity to check for bargains.
Game-Specific Events: Some games or franchises have their own sale weekends (like Resident Evil Weekends, or indie bundles), which can also be great times to buy discounted titles.

Each of these seasonal events can save you 30–80% on games.

To maximize savings, wait for these sales instead of buying at full price.

Patience is often the best bargain-hunting strategy.

Annual Deals and Ongoing Promotions

Beyond seasonal sales, there are annual and special deals to watch.

For example, in addition to Steam/Epic sales, services like Humble Bundle offer frequent bundles of games at “pay what you want” prices or charity promotions.

Humble Bundle deals (and similar bundle sites) can grant you multiple games or platform keys at very low total cost.

Subscription services and game passes are another avenue: Xbox Game Pass for PC gives access to a large library of games for a monthly fee, and its subscribers also get discounts on many titles in the catalog.

Likewise, subscription bundles like Humble Choice include several games per month.

If you regularly buy new games, a Game Pass subscription can often pay for itself with the games you get.

Gift card and coupon deals can further cut costs.

Retailers and gaming platforms occasionally sell gift cards at a discount (for example, a $50 Steam gift card for $45).

Using these on game purchases effectively gives you an instant discount.

Also, keep an eye on coupon codes – sites like Reddit or coupon aggregators sometimes share valid discount codes for game stores (though always use reputable sources for codes).

It’s also worth noting free game promotions.

For instance, Epic Games Store gives away free PC games weekly, and other platforms (like Ubisoft Connect or EA Play) offer free titles to subscribers.

While freebies may not always be your top wishlist games, they’re 100% savings and worth grabbing.

Black Friday / Holiday Sales: Besides Steam, major retailers and console manufacturers also discount PC games during Black Friday and the winter holidays.
Many game bundles and hardware (like graphics cards or gaming PCs) see price drops in November-December.
Amazon Prime Day (Summer Deal): Amazon’s Prime Day sale (typically in June) occasionally includes deals on PC games or gaming accessories (The Best Times to Buy Video Games: When to Find PC and Console Deals ).
It’s a good time to check Amazon for any “lightning deals” on games.
Humble Bundles & Indie Bundles: Websites like Humble Bundle regularly sell collections of games at steep discounts.
These bundles often run concurrently with game events or as charity drives.

Discounted Store Credit: Keep an eye on deals for discounted store credit or gift cards.
During some holidays, you can buy gaming store gift cards at a reduced price from retailers, then use them to pay for games.

By stacking these annual promotions with patience, you can obtain both big new releases and indie titles cheaply.

For example, if a new triple-A game releases in October, you might wait and buy it on sale by Black Friday.

Even a month’s delay can save half off the price.

Money-Saving Tips and Strategies

Here are some additional tips to ensure you get the best deals:

Wait for Big Sales: Whenever possible, delay non-urgent game purchases until a major sale event (Steam sale, Epic sale, Black Friday, etc.).
This simple strategy often yields the largest discounts.
Use Price Comparison (e.g. Yawkeys): Use our price-comparison site Yawkeys to track current deals and compare prices across stores.
By searching Yawkeys, you can instantly see which retailer offers the lowest price for a given game.
This ensures you pay the least.
Buy Bundles: Purchase game bundles or multi-game packs from sites like Humble Bundle or Fanatical.
You often get several games for the price of one or two, drastically reducing the cost per game.
Apply Coupons and Gift Cards: Look for coupon codes (especially during seasonal promotions) and buy discounted gift cards.
For example, buying a Steam or store gift card on sale and applying it to your purchase effectively lowers the price.
Subscribe to Game Pass Services: Consider subscribing to gaming services (Xbox Game Pass for PC, Humble Choice, etc.) if you frequently play multiple games.
These subscriptions include game libraries and member discounts that often pay off.
Monitor Free Game Offers: Take advantage of free game promotions (like Epic’s weekly free PC games).
Even though these games may rotate through different genres, grabbing free titles is essentially a 100% discount.
Set Wishlists and Alerts: Add games you want to your Steam or Epic wishlists.
These platforms will notify you by email when your wishlist items go on sale, so you never miss a deal.

By combining these tactics — planning purchases around sales, comparing prices, and using bundles or subscriptions — you can save hundreds of dollars on PC games each year.

As one strategy suggests, plan ahead: make a list of desired games and watch for them on sale (The Best Times to Buy Video Games: When to Find PC and Console Deals ).

Using tools like CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon price history) or wishlist alerts can help verify when a price drop is a true deal (The Best Times to Buy Video Games: When to Find PC and Console Deals ).

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How to Get GTA 6 at the Best Price

If you’re eagerly awaiting GTA 6 (set to release Fall 2025), the same strategies apply.

Keep an eye on deals around major sales, even before the official release.

You can use our site Yawkeys to follow the latest offers and discounts for GTA 6 across different stores.

By comparing prices on Yawkeys, you will know as soon as any pre-order or launch discount appears.

Whether it’s a pre-release sale or bundled bonus, comparing prices ensures you get the best possible deal on GTA 6 when it launches.

Conclusion

Knowing the best times to buy is key to saving money on PC games.

In general, the seasonal and annual sales – such as Steam’s Summer/Winter Sales, Black Friday deals, Amazon Prime Day, and bundle promotions – are when you’ll find games at the lowest prices (Steam sale dates: When is the next Steam sale? | PC Gamer) (The Best Times to Buy Video Games: When to Find PC and Console Deals ).

By planning your purchases around these events and using money-saving strategies (price comparison, bundles, coupons, etc.), you’ll maximize your savings.

For example, GTA 6 – the upcoming open-world epic – is a prime illustration.

GTA 6 looks to redefine the genre with an exciting story, new characters, and a detailed open world.

As its Fall 2025 release approaches, fan excitement is building.

By applying the tips above (waiting for sales, comparing prices on our site, etc.), you can be sure to pick up GTA 6 and other games at the best prices.

Ultimately, the best time to buy any PC game is when a major sale is on – so keep watch on those events and grab the deals!

Sources: We referenced industry coverage of sales schedules and deals to ensure accuracy.

For example, PC Gamer and CNET confirm the timing of Steam’s seasonal sales (Learn When the Next Steam Sale Is and How to Save Money While Growing Your Game Library - CNET) (Steam sale dates: When is the next Steam sale? | PC Gamer), and IGN notes other sales events like Amazon Prime Day (The Best Times to Buy Video Games: When to Find PC and Console Deals ).

Using these reliable schedules lets gamers plan purchases and save the most.

Useful Links

Yawkeys - Game Price Comparison Platform:

https://yawkeys.com

Yawkeys Blog - Latest Deals

https://www.yawkeys.com/blog