Every year, video game fans on PC look forward to major sales through the Steam digital storefront. This year's Steam Summer Sale, which took place between June 25 and July 9, discounted thousands of titles as part of the annual event which has become infamous for dismantling one's frugality. However, summer is not the only time when major sales events roll around, as today Steam began its 2020 Autumn Sale to coincide with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.
The idea that Steam's Autumn Sale would begin today was rumored online, but the beginning of the event taking over Steam's front page provided confirmation. In its lead graphic, provided by freelance illustrator Slawek Fedorczuk, the 2020 Steam Autumn Sale advertises itself as running until December 1 at 10:00 a.m. PT, giving interested players about a week to take advantage of "great deals on thousands of games," according to a post by Steam's official Twitter account.
The sheer amount of games on sale are difficult to innumerate, but Steam provides multiple options for users to find what they might be interested in. Just under Fedorczuk's graphic are a cycling list of "Featured Deals," which as of this writing included The Sims 4 for 88 percent off and Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (before Season 3 drops) for 20 percent off. Special offers can be browsed via 75 represented franchises, including Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Star Wars, Assassin's Creed, and Sonic the Hedgehog; and starting this year there is also the option to search via genre.
With countless games anywhere up to 90 percent off, there is no doubt something for everyone in the Steam Autumn Sale. However, Valve has also coincided its release with a number of other incentives. Those who are perusing the catalog of discounted games can also purchase Autumn-themed avatar frames, a mini-profile background, and a regular profile background for 2,000 Steam Points each, and nominations for the fifth-annual Steam Awards are also open until December 1.
There are 10 categories to nominate for the 2020 Steam Awards, including the ever-coveted Game of the Year Award that went to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in 2019. After nominations close at the end of the Autumn Sale, voting will take place during Steam's Winter Sale, and winners will be announced on January 3, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. PT.
As many spend their well-earned coin on thousands of discounted games through the end of the month, those players should stick around as the digital storefront and distribution platform continues to expand. Steam added support for the new PS5 DualSense controller following the next-gen console's release, and Valve has been testing new features such as letting developers host early playtesting through Steam for limited audiences.