One
big reason for Steam's dominance in PC gaming is its regular sales.
Dubbed Steam Sales, there two big ones each year, in the Summer and
Winter. According to one leak,
this year's Steam Summer Sale will be on from June 11 to June 20,
followed by two days of encore sales, where the best offers are
available once again.
Since it's running parallel to E3 2015,
you'll be checking out the latest video game announcements as well as
having to continuously refresh the Steam page for the latest and
greatest deals. Which is why we've devised this handy guide to help you
save time and get the best deals throughout the sale.
1. Don't buy anything on the first day
It
might sound counter-intuitive at first, but early deals are usually not
the best ones. Unless it's the last day of the sale do not buy games,
except for daily deals, flash sales, or a community choice discount.
Instead of a 20 or 25 percent discount you'll see on day one, games
marked as daily deals, flash sales, or community choice are usually
discounted anywhere between 66 to 75 percent, making them the best
choice.
2. Work on your timing
Daily deals
last a whole day, while flash sales and community choice discounts last
eight hours. Plan your shopping accordingly to avoid last minute
purchases, and avoid the surge of late buyers that could lead to painful
checkouts.
3. Exercise your right to vote and get paid
Well,
almost. Valve has often asked the community to vote on what games they
would like to see discounted. Voting nets you Steam cards that are
unique to the sale. You can then sell the cards on the Steam marketplace
immediately, as they diminish in value as the sale wears on. Selling
Steam Sale cards quickly helps you rack up some money to offset the cost
of the games you want.
4. If it isn't up front, it isn't cheap enough
As
the sale continues, Valve refreshes its front page to ensure only the
best deals catch your attention. Though most games are discounted,
digging deep past the initial lot usually results in paltry discounts at
best. Instead of digging deep for deals, hold tight for the last day,
as the game will either get a better discount, or the price will at
least not rise during the sale. Either way, always remember that if it's
not on the front page it isn't discounted deeply enough.
5. Regret nothing
So,
you missed out on a game that was heavily discounted? Fret not, usually
the last two days are reserved for an encore of the best deals. More
often than not , what you missed out on will be at the price you desire
towards the end of the sale.
6. Bring some friends
Steam
Sales are a great time to get discounts on multiplayer games. Even more
so with friends. In the past we've seen scenarios where buying four
copies resulted in one being free, making this the opportune moment to
get your multiplayer fix cheaper if you bring friends along.
7. The wishlist helps you win
You
might not be at a PC 24/7, perhaps or you have a life. We won't judge.
Regardless, you'd be best served adding the games you want to your Steam
wishlist. If they're on sale (and you haven't fiddled with your
settings) you'll get an email notification, making buying an easy
affair.
Are you looking forward to the Steam Summer Sale? Tell us which games are on your wishlist, via the comments.
